There are few players in women’s college basketball who mean more to their team than Alyssa Thomas.

The talented Terrapins women’s basketball forward does a little bit of everything, and she does it all very well. Her 16.7 points per game are tied for first in the ACC in scoring. Her 7.9 rebounds per game rank seventh in the league. She’s third in free-throw percentage, 10th in assists and 15th in steals.

Her being named first-team All-ACC for the first time in her young career yesterday, in fact, was the drama-free prelude to the announcement later this week of ACC Player of the Year.

“If there’s any doubt for people out there for who should be player of the year in the conference this year, I mean, the amount of games she’s taken over and put this team on her back has been pretty special to watch,” coach Brenda Frese said.

The sophomore capped off her all-conference season with an impressive final weekend that earned her the ACC Player of the Week award for the fourth time this season. In the No. 6 Terps’ 84-64 win over North Carolina Friday night, Thomas came within three assists of notching her first triple-double, posting 20 points, 14 rebounds and a season-high seven assists.

Her showing Sunday may have been even better. Thomas scored 22 of her game-high 24 points in the second half against the Wolfpack, setting new career highs with 17 rebounds and four blocks.

Forward Tianna Hawkins, a second-team All-ACC selection, and center Lynetta Kizer and guard Laurin Mincy, who were honorable mentions, joined Thomas as postseason honorees.

Kizer was also honored as the league’s Sixth Player of the Year. Voted on by the conference’s 12 coaches, the award is given to the league’s top player who started in less than a third of her team’s games. A three-year starter for the Terps entering her senior year, Kizer has started only once this season.

“She gives us a phenomenal scoring punch and a rebounder that’s coming in while other teams may not be as fresh or bringing in limited players,” Frese said last week. “She’s able to give us a punch that I don’t think any other team has in the country coming off the bench.”

STARTER SHUFFLE

Moments before tip-off Friday night, a name that Terps fans hadn’t heard boomed in a long time was announced over the Comcast Center public-address system:

“Starting at center, a 6-4 senior from Woodbridge, Va., No. 12 Lynetta Kizer.”

After coming off the bench in each of the first 24 games of her senior season, Kizer was back in the starting lineup on Senior Night. She finished the victory with seven points, five rebounds and a team-high four steals.

When asked during Friday’s postgame press conference whether Kizer’s move back into the starting lineup would stick, Frese offered little comment.

“I haven’t really thought that far,” she said.

The question was answered on Sunday, however. Proving her start was nothing more than a Senior Night formality, Kizer was back on the bench when lineups were announced Sunday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C. Alicia DeVaughn reclaimed the starting role she gained after Kizer’s three-game suspension to start the season.

Kizer posted six points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench in a win over the Wolfpack.

“I’ve been starting here for three years,” said Kizer, who started 96 of 102 games in her first three seasons in College Park. “But it was clearly the coaches’ decision to keep the lineup how it was.”

LOCKING DOWN

If you were to ask Frese or any of her players what the Terps’ primary focus in practice has been this season, their answer would be simple: defense.

In the team’s past seven games entering this weekend’s ACC Tournament in Greensboro, N.C., it’s clear that focus has paid off.

After allowing an average of more than 70 points per game through their first eight conference games, the Terps have held all but one of their past eight opponents to fewer than 65 points. They’ve allowed less than 59 points per game in that span.

The Terps are 7-1 in that stretch — they lost to No. 7 Miami, 76-74, on Feb. 12 — making them one of the hottest teams in the conference heading into its quarterfinal matchup Friday.

“I’m really proud of our defense,” Frese said. “Everyone’s game is getting better.”

vitale@umdbk.com