Jan. 28, 2008

FULLERTON, CA - Cal State Fullerton junior forward Toni Thomas was named the Big West Conference Player of the Week for the second time this season on Monday afternoon after helping the Titans to a pair of wins last week.

Thomas (San Bernardino, CA/A.B. Miller HS), who won weekly conference honors for the fifth time in her career, shared her first award this season with Pacific's Karen Dawkins earlier this month (Jan. 2).

The league's leading scorer entering this week's games averaged 18.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest while shooting .619 from the floor in helping Fullerton to an upset win at UC Riverside, handing the Highlanders their first and only loss in conference play thus far this season, and a road victory over Cal State Bakersfield.

Thomas had 15 points and six rebounds before fouling out late in the second half at UCR and followed that up with a stellar performance against the Roadrunners, narrowly missing a double-double with 21 points and nine rebounds while adding the game-winning basket with :09 remaining in regulation in Fullerton's two-point victory.

The 21 points against Cal State Bakersfield marked the fourth time in the last six games Thomas has reached the 20-point mark and the eighth time overall this season.

This season, the junior forward is averaging 18.3 ppg and 7.1 rpg while shooting .507 from the field, .381 from three-point range, and .752 from the free throw line.

Winners of its last three straight, Cal State Fullerton returns home to kick-off a four-game homestand this week, hosting local rivals Long Beach State and Cal State Northridge at Titan Gym.