The University of Mississippi Athletics
Thomas Named To Naismith Trophy Midseason List
2/25/2010 | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA, Ga. - Ole Miss All-America candidate Bianca Thomas was tabbed as one of the 30 midseason candidates for the 2010 Women's Naismith Trophy the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Thursday.
The midseason watch list was voted on by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists from around the country. The board based its criteria on player performances this season.
Thomas currently leads the SEC and ranks 11th in the nation with 20.6 points per game and is bidding to become just the third player in Ole Miss history to score at least 20 points per game for an entire season. The Henderson, Tenn., native has put together 15 games this season of at least 20 points and is the SEC's active career leader with 25.
Earlier this year, Thomas set a new Tad Smith Coliseum record with 42 points to lead the Rebels to an upset win over nationally-ranked LSU, becoming just the second player in school history with a 40-point game. She has scored 1,396 points during her Rebel career and currently ranks 12th all-time at Ole Miss.
Thomas has also proven to be one of the top long range threats in the nation and ranks second in the SEC and 11th in the country with 3.1 three-pointers per game. Her 83 three-pointers this year have already set a new Ole Miss single season record, surpassing the 73 she hit last season as a junior.
She also owns the school record for the most three-pointers in a game with seven, accomplishing that feat twice this season and a total of three times over her career.
"Bianca Thomas is without question one of the top players in the country and is very deserving of this recognition," Ole Miss head coach Renee Ladner said. "She has carried us on her back all season long and has come up big for us time and time again, and I couldn't be more happy for her."
The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T is the most prestigious national basketball award and is given annually to the women's college basketball player of the year. This year, the award will be presented at the NCAA Women's Final Four in San Antonio, Texas.
"The consistent theme among these candidates is that they display hard work, dedication and passion for basketball both on and off the court said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. "They all exhibit the outstanding traits that make them worthy for consideration of the prestigious Naismith Trophy."
As a presenting sponsor since 2005, AT&T has set the standard in fan participation in determining this year's winner. Through the power and ease of text messaging, fan voting will account for an unprecedented 25 percent of the final results - more than any other national college basketball award.
Beginning March 22, AT&T wireless customers - and sports fans on other wireless networks - will be able to text their votes for the player of their choice. Fans will be eligible to cast their vote for the winner until 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on Saturday, April 3, 2010. AT&T is making the voting open to other wireless carriers, allowing even more fans to participate. Other wireless carriers must opt-in for their subscribers to participate. Standard messaging rates apply.
"AT&T applauds these student-athletes' for their performances this season," said Jamie Kerr, senior manager, AT&T National Sponsorships. "Through our text message voting program, we're giving college basketball fans - arguably the most enthusiastic sports fans - the opportunity once again to help determine this year's award recipient."
For more information on Thomas, please visit www.OleMissSports.com/biancathomas.
The midseason watch list was voted on by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists from around the country. The board based its criteria on player performances this season.
Thomas currently leads the SEC and ranks 11th in the nation with 20.6 points per game and is bidding to become just the third player in Ole Miss history to score at least 20 points per game for an entire season. The Henderson, Tenn., native has put together 15 games this season of at least 20 points and is the SEC's active career leader with 25.
Earlier this year, Thomas set a new Tad Smith Coliseum record with 42 points to lead the Rebels to an upset win over nationally-ranked LSU, becoming just the second player in school history with a 40-point game. She has scored 1,396 points during her Rebel career and currently ranks 12th all-time at Ole Miss.
Thomas has also proven to be one of the top long range threats in the nation and ranks second in the SEC and 11th in the country with 3.1 three-pointers per game. Her 83 three-pointers this year have already set a new Ole Miss single season record, surpassing the 73 she hit last season as a junior.
She also owns the school record for the most three-pointers in a game with seven, accomplishing that feat twice this season and a total of three times over her career.
"Bianca Thomas is without question one of the top players in the country and is very deserving of this recognition," Ole Miss head coach Renee Ladner said. "She has carried us on her back all season long and has come up big for us time and time again, and I couldn't be more happy for her."
The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T is the most prestigious national basketball award and is given annually to the women's college basketball player of the year. This year, the award will be presented at the NCAA Women's Final Four in San Antonio, Texas.
"The consistent theme among these candidates is that they display hard work, dedication and passion for basketball both on and off the court said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff Club president. "They all exhibit the outstanding traits that make them worthy for consideration of the prestigious Naismith Trophy."
As a presenting sponsor since 2005, AT&T has set the standard in fan participation in determining this year's winner. Through the power and ease of text messaging, fan voting will account for an unprecedented 25 percent of the final results - more than any other national college basketball award.
Beginning March 22, AT&T wireless customers - and sports fans on other wireless networks - will be able to text their votes for the player of their choice. Fans will be eligible to cast their vote for the winner until 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on Saturday, April 3, 2010. AT&T is making the voting open to other wireless carriers, allowing even more fans to participate. Other wireless carriers must opt-in for their subscribers to participate. Standard messaging rates apply.
"AT&T applauds these student-athletes' for their performances this season," said Jamie Kerr, senior manager, AT&T National Sponsorships. "Through our text message voting program, we're giving college basketball fans - arguably the most enthusiastic sports fans - the opportunity once again to help determine this year's award recipient."
For more information on Thomas, please visit www.OleMissSports.com/biancathomas.
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