Sinclair became the fifth women's basketball player in the history of Concordia University Chicago to reach the 1,000 point mark. (Photo courtesy of Concordia University Chicago)

Atoi Sinclair tops thousand points for career
RIVER FOREST, Ill. -- Atoi Sinclair (Milwaukee, WI – Lutheran H.S.) became the fifth women’s basketball player in the history of Concordia University Chicago to reach the 1,000 point mark for her career in a Dec. 29 contest against McMurry (TX) University. Sinclair joins Amy Gibson (1,243), Tammie (Dunker) Driver (1,172), Laura Kohrs (1,137) and Kim Schumacher (1,071) as the only Cougar women to achieve this feat.

Sinclair entered this season with 870 points over her first three seasons and recorded her milestone point in her 10th game of this season. Needing just six points entering the game against McMurry, she scored two baskets in the first 13:30 before getting fouled with 6:13 remaining in the first half. She hit both free throws, with the second giving her the thousandth point.

The Cougars’ 5’10” forward has been a regular among the scoring and rebound leaders for the old Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference and, beginning this year, the Northern Athletics Conference. She led the NIIC in rebounding during her freshman season of 2004-05 with a 9.5 average. Sinclair, a two-year co-captain, has scored in double figures 53 times in her career, pulled down 10 or more rebounds in a game 34 times, and recorded a double-double 23 times.

Sinclair has been honored by the NIIC in all three of her seasons, twice as first-team and once as honorable mention. She has been a nominee for the d3hoops.com All-Region team and a multiple recipient of Concordia’s Athlete of the Week award.

“Atoi came here three years ago and immediately raised the level of our program,” said Cougar head coach Tamlyn Tills. “She has been the backbone of our team, she is a very talented player, and I am very happy for her reaching this milestone for her career.”

Sinclair will be honored for her scoring feat before the Cougars’ home game against Aurora University on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m.

Courtesy of Concordia University Chicago, Sports Information Department, January 11, 2007.