Thorns, Smith Tabbed Athletes of the Week
1/25/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2011
FORT WORTH - TCU's athletics department has chosen basketball's Hank Thorns and tennis' Olivia Smith as its Athletes of the Week for the efforts during the past week.
Thorns averaged 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists for the Frog men's basketball team during last week's outings against BYU and Utah. The Las Vegas, Nev., native totaled seven points while tying career highs with seven boards and 10 helpers during the Jan. 18 loss at BYU. He also recorded his 300th career assist against the ninth-ranked Cougars.
Thorns followed up his outing against BYU by becoming the first Frog this season to pace the squad in points, rebounds and assists against Utah. He matched a career best with 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting while adding six rebounds and six dimes. He totaled 16 of his points in the first half alone.
For the season, Thorns leads the Mountain West Conference in assist average (6.05), is second in assist-turnover ratio (2.37) and is third on the team in scoring at 9.6 points per game.
Smith claimed victories in singles and doubles in her first action as a Horned Frog, helping TCU to a season-opening 7-0 win over UTPA. The Bath, England, native sat out the fall season after transferring from Miami (Fla.)
In doubles, Smith joined Gaby Mastromarino to roll to an 8-1 win over UTPA's Dana Nazarova and Zalina Nazarova. The TCU duo was the first doubles win of the mach and sparked TCU's runaway victory.
In singles, Smith debuted at the No. 3 position and took on Zalina Nazarova of UTPA. After a tough first set, Smith rolled in the second set and picked up a 6-4, 6-1 win.
