IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly women’s basketball honors, for the week ending Sunday, Feb. 28.
Player of the Week
IImar’I Thomas * Sr. * F * Cincinnati
Thomas enjoyed an outstanding week for 2-0 Cincinnati, averaging a remarkable 39.5 points and 10.5 rebounds to lead the Bearcats. Thomas added a .683 clip (28-of-41) shooting from the field, 1.5 blocks and 2.5 assists per contest. She re-wrote the conference offensive record book at East Carolina on Feb. 24, scoring an American record 51 points on 20-of-27 from the floor and 11-of-13 attempts from the free-throw line. Thomas added 12 rebounds (10 offensive), four assists and a steal against the Pirates. She closed the weekend with 28 points, nine boards and three blocked shots in a road victory at Tulsa on Feb. 27.
Freshmen of the Week
Laila Blair * Fr. * G * Houston
Blair was a key contributor to a 2-0 Houston week that featured an 18-point win against previous American unbeaten and No. 13 ranked USF. She averaged 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game for the Cougars, shooting a combined .556 (10-of-18) for the week. Blair tallied 15 points, six boards, six assists and three steals in a road triumph at Wichita State on Feb. 24 before going for 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting (3-for-3 from beyond the 3-point line) with three rebounds and three steals against No. 13 USF on Feb. 27.
JerKaila Jordan * Fr. * G * Tulane
Jordan extended her American record with a seventh overall conference freshman of the week honor following her third straight game with 28 or more points scored in a 20-point win at Memphis on Feb. 23. Jordan logged 29 points on 13-of-22 shooting (.591) to go along with four rebounds, a block and two steals against the Tigers. Her last three starts have featured 28 points against UCF, 29 points at No. 13 USF and 29 points at Memphis.
Weekly Honor Roll
Courtajia Sanders * Sr. * G * UCF
Filled the stat sheet with 22 points, eight rebounds and four steals in a dominant UCF win over Temple; equaled the Owls’ team point total (14) individually at the end of the first half
Krystal Freeman * Sr. * F * Tulane
Notched a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds in a dominant Tulane performance and win at Memphis; blocked a pair of shots and added a steal against the Tigers
Britney Onyeje * R-So. * G * Houston
Averaged 10.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals in a 2-0 Houston week; scored eight points and pulled down 10 rebounds (four offensive) in convincing win over No. 13 USF
Elena Tsineke * So. * G * USF
Averaged 16.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per contest in a 1-1 week for No. 13 USF; scored 24 points in only 26 minutes of action at Houston
Synia Johnson * Fr. * G * East Carolina
Logged 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game in a 1-1 split for ECU; shot .625 from the floor with matching 5-for-8 performances against Cincinnati and Memphis