Thomas Collects Second-Straight Honorable-Mention All-America Award
Orielle Thomas will enter Wednesday’s game just five points shy of the 1,000-point mark
Oskaloosa–Orielle Thomas (Sr., Waynesville, Mo., Physical Education) ended her collegiate career with one final playing honor as the 2012-2013 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball All-America teams were announced Wednesday.
For the second year in a row, Thomas represented William Penn on the honorable-mention team. She was one of four players from the Midwest Collegiate Conference who earned the nation-wide recognition (56 total players).
Thomas is the program’s 17th All-American in its history. The Statesmen have now had an individual collect All-America status for five consecutive seasons.
The senior helped the navy and gold to a 19-10 record this winter, including a 9-3 mark in league play. The squad finished the year in the MCC Tournament Semifinals.
A first-team all-MCC pick back in February, she averaged a double-double of 13.4 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. She also tallied 48 assists, 41 steals, and 11 blocks on the year.
Thomas posted 15 double-doubles and highlighted her year by scoring 22 points against McPherson (Kan.) on November 16.
For her three-year career (graduating early), she managed 1,040 points (19th player to reach the mark, 12.4 average), 854 rebounds, 121 assists, 109 steals, and 33 blocks. Her rebounding tally is good for fifth all-time at WPU. Thomas posted 37 double-doubles in her career.
“It is awesome to see that hard work does really pay off,” Head Coach Mike Brown said. “Orielle took her game to another level this year. As a new staff, we talked to her about impacting the game on the other end of the floor (defensive) because we felt her offense would take care of itself. We really challenged her to be better than the year before, and she did it.”
“I am so happy for Orielle, because she has grown so much as a player and a person and that is what an All-American does,” Brown added. “She was and is a very special athlete who does not come around that often at this level.”
Kendra DeJong of Northwestern was tabbed as NAIA Division II Player of the Year, while Indiana Wesleyan’s Steve Brooks earned the Phyllis Holmes Coach of the Year honor. The Wildcats won their second national title Tuesday night.
