Binghamton University Athletics

A native of Williston Park, N.Y., Helene Thomas played basketball at Binghamton from 1982-85. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics and law & society in 1985 and went on to earn her MBA in finance from Fordham in 1988.

A four-year starter and two-time all-conference guard, Thomas became the first 1,000-point scorer in program history when she reached the milestone in her final collegiate game.

In her first full season at Binghamton in 1982-83, Thomas averaged a team-high 14.3 points — the first of three consecutive years when she led the team in scoring. She was named the MVP at the in-season Binghamton Invitational and after the season was selected as team MVP.

As a junior, Thomas averaged 12.4 points and led the Colonials to the conference semifinals. She was named to the All-SUNYAC team.

Thomas produced an outstanding senior season in 1984-85. She averaged 18.7 points — second-highest in the entire SUNYAC. That average set the school record and still ranks fifth-best after the first 41 years of women's basketball at Binghamton.

Thomas scored 374 points in 20 games and eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau in the team's season-ending victory over Geneseo on the East Gym court.

She was voted to the SUNYAC first team, deemed one of the top guards in the entire conference. She repeated as MVP of the Binghamton Invitational during the season and after the season, was again named team MVP.

Thomas scored 20 or more points 12 times in her career, before the benefit of the three-pointer. Her career scoring average of 13.1 points ranks sixth in program history.

She was the University's Female "Athlete of the Year" in 1984-85 and also received the John Bilos Alumni Award in 1985.