IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly women’s basketball honors, for the week ending Sunday, Nov. 29.
Player of the Week
IImar’I Thomas * Sr. * F * Cincinnati
Thomas shined in Cincinnati’s lone appearance during the opening week of the season, scoring a conference-high 34 points to help left the Bearcats to a 73-67 win in overtime over Northern Kentucky on Nov. 25. Finishing just one point off matching her career high, the preseason American Women’s Basketball Co-Player of the Year scored 28 points in the game’s final 25 minutes and outpaced Northern Kentucky by a 13-11 clip on her own during the overtime period. Along with a 14-for-23 (.609) shooting effort from the field, Thomas chipped in seven rebounds and six assists in the Cincinnati win. Her 34-point showing ranked fifth among all players in Division I after the season’s first week.
Freshman of the Week
Jerkaila Jordan * Fr. * G * Tulane
Jordan enjoyed a successful debut in the Tulane backcourt in an 88-43 win over Nicholls State on Nov. 25, tallying 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists for the Green Wave. Jordan added a 6-for-11 (.545) showing from the field to go along with a 4-for-5 effort from the free-throw line and a pair of steals in 25 minutes of action. Her points, rebounds and field goals totals each ranked second in the Tulane lineup in the victory.
Weekly Honor Roll
Krystal Freeman * Sr. * F * Tulane
Notched 18th career double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds in Tulane’s 88-43 home win over Nicholls State; finished the contest 8-for-13 (.615) on field goal attempts, including 3-for-6 from beyond the arc
Asia Strong * Jr. * F * Wichita State
Scored a game-high 20 points on 9-of-15 (.600) shooting in first career game for Wichita State in a 78-58 victory against Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Nov. 27; added six rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot to stat line
Beatriz Jordao * Jr. * C * USF
Recorded second career double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds in USF’s 84-46 triumph over Jacksonville on Nov. 28; closed the game 6-for-7 (.857) from the floor and tied a career high with four blocked shots
Diamond Battles * Jr. * G * UCF
Scored a career-high 17 points to go along with seven assists for UCF in a 60-34 rout of Virginia on Nov. 25; also contributed a career-high five steals in the win
Britney Onyeje * R-So. * G * Houston
Averaged 17.5 points per game over first two collegiate contests for 1-1 Houston, which included 23 points in a 97-85 win at Oklahoma on Nov. 25; averaged 6.0 rebounds per game and shot a combined .409 from beyond the arc in week one