BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team had two members awarded post-season honors on Monday as announced by the league office. Freshman Brandy Thomas was tabbed the 2018-19 Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year to go along with All-Rookie Team and Third Team All-NEC honors while sophomore Jeydah Johnson was named Third Team All-NEC. Thomas is the program's fourth NEC Rookie of The Year honoree.
Thomas, a six-time NEC Rookie of the Week led the team and NEC rookies in scoring with 13.9 points per game. Her team leading scoring output ranked eighth among league leaders. She tallied a NEC single-game high for the season with 36 points against Mount St. Mary's on a program record 16 made field goals on February 11. Thomas ranked second in the conference with 10.4 rebounds per game this season, that mark also ranked second in the nation among first-year players. The 5-10 forward recorded 15 double-doubles on the season, ranking second in the conference. Her season total in double-doubles was the most in the nation by a freshman.
The Baldwin, N.Y. native is the first LIU rookie to lead the team in scoring since Ashley Palmer in 2008-2009. She is the first Blackbird to average a double-double on the season since Cammie Williams back in 1992-1993. Thomas joins Kim MacMillian (1999-2000), Valerie Nainima (2006-2007) and Palmer (2008-2009) as the program's NEC Rookie of the Year honorees.
Jeydah Johnson had a standout sophomore campaign for the Blackbirds, earning third team All-NEC honors. Johnson ranked ninth in the league in scoring with 13.6 points per game on the year. Her 1.8 made three-point field goals per game also ranked seventh among league leaders. She recorded six 20-point scoring efforts on the year including a career-high 28 points against Bryant back on January 5. Johnson also increased her rebounding total in her second season with LIU averaging 4.2 rebounds per game.
LIU has now earned a pair of All-NEC selections in each of the last four seasons under the direction of head coach Stephanie Del Preore.