NORFOLK, Va. – Freshman guard Diamond Thomas posted career-high totals of 27 points and eight rebounds in the only game of the week for the North Carolina Central University women's basketball team on the way to earning her third Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week award as announced by the conference office on Tuesday, Feb. 1.
 
Thomas swished six 3-pointers to account for 18 of her 27 points against preseason favorite Howard University on Saturday. The half dozen made treys was also a season-best total for the sharpshooter.
 
In NCCU's upset bid, Thomas drilled her sixth trifecta midway through the fourth quarter to pull the Eagles within two possessions. However, the Bison held off a depleted Eagles lineup that had only seven active players in the late stages.
 
The Knightdale, North Carolina, resident has scored in double digits in six straight games, including 20-plus points in each of her last two outings, to increase her season scoring average to 12.3 points per game.
 
Thomas, who is averaging 17.8 points per game in league play, ranks fourth in the MEAC in scoring on the season. She is one of the best perimeter shooters in the conference, ranking second in the MEAC both with a .330 three-point field goal percentage and 2.3 made 3-pointers per game.
 
Against Howard, Thomas also yanked down eight boards, which was twice as many as her previous best so far this rookie campaign.
 
Thomas has also earned her MEAC Rookie of the Week honors on Nov. 30 and Jan. 11.
 
Thomas and the Eagles are next scheduled to host MEAC foe Morgan State University in a rescheduled game on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.