Thomas And Johnson Named Loyola Athletes Of The Month For January - Loyola University Chicago Official Athletic Site

Feb. 4, 2013

CHICAGO - Christian Thomas (St. Louis, Mo./Clayton) and Taylor Johnson (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) have been named Loyola University Chicago's Male and Female Athlete of the Month, respectively, for January, it was announced today. This marks the first Loyola Athlete of the Month award for either individual.

Thomas had an impressive month and contributed 13.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, while connecting on 61 percent (45 for 74) of his field goal attempts as Loyola men's basketball won four games in January. The sophomore forward scored in double figures in eight of the Ramblers' nine outings and posted three double doubles, the first of his career.

In a 63-54 victory at Valparaiso in the Horizon League opener for both teams, Thomas recorded 14 points and six rebounds, and nine days later, he notched his first career double double with 13 points and 11 boards against Wright State. In a heartbreaking 61-59 loss at UIC on January 16, Thomas was perfect from both the field (4 for 4) and foul line (8 for 8) en route to 16 points, and he also poured in a career-best 21 points in a 67-55 win at Cleveland State on January 23.

Through games of February 2, Thomas was contributing 9.8 ppg and 5.8 rpg, totals that ranked second on the team.

Johnson was equally as impressive in January for the Rambler women's basketball team as she collected 17.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.6 apg, and 3.5 spg in eight contests. The freshman guard also posted three double doubles in January and was unstoppable in Loyola's 84-74 victory at Milwaukee to close out the month, as she nearly recorded a triple double, going for 33 points, 11 boards, seven assists and five steals.

Playing all 40 minutes against both Wright State and Detroit, Johnson topped the 20-point plateau in each contest, racking up 22 points and 11 boards versus the Raiders, and 21 points and nine rebounds against the Titans. The ultra-quick guard put up 19 points, 11 rebounds and six steals in a 52-44 victory at Valparaiso on January 16 for the Ramblers' first-ever win at the Athletics-Recreation Center.

Already this season, Johnson has been named Horizon League Newcomer of the Week on four occasions, including on January 21, and through the opening month of 2013, she was the highest-scoring freshman in the conference at 13.8 ppg.