ST. LOUIS – Aniya Thomas of Missouri State women’s basketball earned her second Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week honor, the league announced Monday.
Thomas led the way for Missouri State last week, averaging 17 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as Missouri State split contests at Belmont and Murray State. The fifth-year senior tallied six assists, four steals, and a block on the week while shooting 43 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range.
In Friday night’s matchup at Belmont, Thomas had a team-high 21 points for her third 20-point performance in conference play this season. She also pulled down five rebounds, dished out four assists, tallied three steals, and went 6-for-9 from the free throw line in 39 minutes on the floor against the Bruins. On Sunday, in MSU’s victory at Murray State, Thomas logged 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds on 6-for-11 (.545) shooting from the field. She added two assists and a steal on the road against the Racers.
The first-year Lady Bear is pacing Missouri State in conference play with 16.5 points per game against MVC foes, and tops The Valley in steals per game (2.4) and ranks second in assists per game (4.7), both of which also rank top 50 nationally. She has also turned in nine consecutive double-digit scoring performances.
This marks Thomas’ second newcomer award of the season and Missouri State has now collected five weekly newcomer honors on the year (Thomas – 2, Kennedy Taylor – 2, Indya Green – 1).
Missouri State returns home this week as it welcomes Northern Iowa on Thursday, Jan. 26. Tipoff at Great Southern Bank Arena is set for 6 p.m. CT.
