Per GoBearcats:
University of Cincinnati women’s basketball senior forward IImar’I Thomas (first name pronounced ee-MAR-ee) has been named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week the league announced Friday after a shortened week of conference play in preparation for the AAC Championship.
It marks the second consecutive week she has earned the recognition and the fourth time overall this season, the most of any AAC player.
Thomas recorded her fifth 30-point game of the season, tallying 30 points while shooting 10 of 18 from the field and hitting 9 of 10 free throws to go with six assists in a 65-57 win at Houston on Tuesday. It marked UC’s third consecutive win.
The Oakland, California, native is averaging 23.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 54.5 percent from the field and 81.8 percent from the free-throw line in 39.4 minutes this season.
Thomas entered Friday ranked among the nation’s Top 30 in seven categories for 2020-21, including minutes played per game (first at 39.37), field goals made (fourth at 195), total points (fifth at 526), points per game (seventh at 23.9), free throws made (seventh at 126), free throws attempted (13th at 154), field goal percentage (22nd at .545) and field goal attempts (23rd at 358).
The only player in school history to achieve at least 1,800 career points and 800 career rebounds, Thomas ranks among the program’s best in multiple career categories entering the postseason, including field goal percentage (first at .583), blocks (second at 127), field goals made (second at 746), points (third at 1,882), rebounds (fourth at 858) and rebound average (tied for eighth at 7.1).
UP NEXT
The Bearcats take part in the 2021 American Championship, Mar. 8-11, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. As the No. 7 seed, the Bearcats battle No. 10 seed Memphis in first-round play Monday at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
