Per GoBearcats:
University of Cincinnati women’s basketball senior forward IImar’I Thomas has been named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week, the league announced Monday.
Thomas put together a standout performance in the season opener against Northern Kentucky on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at Fifth Third Arena, tallying 34 points, seven rebounds and six assists leading UC to a 73-67 overtime victory.
Thomas, the AAC Co-Preseason Player of the Year, poured in 28 of her 34 points after intermission, including 13 points in overtime. She shot 14 of 23 from the floor after halftime, including a 3-pointer with 3:33 left in overtime that gave the Bearcats a 64-57 lead to help lock up the win.
It marked the third time this calendar year that Thomas has scored 30 or more points in a game. She netted 32 points against UCF on Jan. 12, 2020 before posting a career-best 35 points against Houston on Jan. 22, 2020.
A WBCA Honorable Mention All-American and unanimous First Team All-AAC selection last season, Thomas received AAC Player of the Week accolades three times and was a nine-time AAC Weekly Honor Roll recipient in 2019-20.
She also earned First Team All-AAC honors as a sophomore in 2018-19 and was tabbed AAC Freshman of the Year and a unanimous All-Freshman Team selection in 2017-18.
