Per GoBearcats:
University of Cincinnati women’s basketball senior forward IImar’I Thomas ranks tied for third in the nation in scoring entering this week and was named Monday to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll.
Thomas put forth a pair of standout scoring games this past week, netting a game-high 32 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field and a career-best 14-of-16 shooting from the free throw line in Cincinnati’s 86-75 setback to Marquette on Thursday. She followed with a 25-point performance on 11-of-16 shooting with eight rebounds in UC’s 79-62 loss at Central Michigan on Saturday.
Thomas’ scoring average of 28.5 points is tied with UT-Martin’s Chelsey Perry for third highest in the nation behind Iowa State’s Ashley Joens (30.8 points) and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark (29.8). She is also shooting 65.7 percent from the floor this season, ranking 30th in the nation.
Through four contests this season, Thomas has scored more than 30 points twice and posted at least 23 points in every game in 2020-21. She was recognized as the AAC Player of the Week after posting 34 points, seven rebounds and six assists leading Cincinnati to a 73-67 overtime win against Northern Kentucky in the season opener on Nov. 25 at Fifth Third Arena. She also was tabbed to the NCAA’s Weekly Starting Five for her performance.
The 2020-21 American Athletic Conference Co-Preseason Player of the Year, Thomas poured in 28 of her 34 points after intermission, including 13 points in overtime against the Norse. 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 lock up the win.
For the season, Thomas is averaging 28.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 65.7 percent (44 of 67) from the field and 86.2 percent (25 of 29) from the free throw line.
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.
UP NEXT
Cincinnati (1-3) opens AAC play at Houston (3-1) on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast by ESPN+.
