Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Hayes sisters earn C-USA Superlative Awards
3/10/2020 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball, BRAA
Anastasia Newcomer of Year; Aislynn Freshman of Year
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Anastasia and Aislynn Hayes burst onto the collegiate scene at Middle Tennessee and made immediate impacts within the Lady Raider basketball program.
Tuesday, the dynamic sisters were honored with two of Conference USA's superlative awards. Anastasia Hayes was named C-USA Newcomer of the Year, and Aislynn Hayes earned the nod for C-USA Freshman of the Year. They are the highest-scoring sister duo in the nation this season, combining to average 32.8 points per game.
"Very, very deserving," Lady Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said. "They were impact players on one of the top teams in the conference and both of them coming in and doing it in their first season with the program. I'm very happy for both of them."
Anastasia Hayes becomes the second straight Lady Raider to be named C-USA Newcomer of the Year, joining A'Queen Hayes, who won the honor last season. Anastasia is the fourth newcomer of the year in Lady Raider history and all four have come under Insell. The other two were Sun Belt honorees Amber Holt (2007) and Alysha Clark (2009).
Anastasia Hayes made an immediate impact for the Lady Raiders and in C-USA, scoring double figures in 28 of 29 games, including 20-plus points in 10 contests. She enters the C-USA Championship with four straight games of 24-plus points.
The dynamic Anastasia Hayes is among the NCAA Top 50 in five categories: free throw attempts (fourth, 221); free throws made (26th, 138), minutes played (22nd, 37.1), scoring (32nd, 18.7) and field goals made (49th, 194). She is also 85th nationally for assists per game (4.4).
Anastasia Hayes is in the Top 4 of four C-USA statistical categories, including minutes (first, 37.1), scoring (second, 18.7), assists (fourth, 4.4) and steals (fourth, 1.9). She is also ninth for assist-turnover ratio with a 1.0 mark.
"I am appreciative of this recognition," said Anastasia Hayes, a three-time C-USA Player of the Week honoree. "The big thing is that our team was able to have success. The goal is to play well and win on the court. It's great being part of a successful team and also being able to share these moments with my sister."
Anastasia Hayes turned in the first triple-double by a guard, and just the second in program history, when she exploded for 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists at Marshall. She was one rebound shy of a triple-double at UTEP and missed another by just one assist against WKU.
Anastasia Hayes poured in a season-high 37 points in the win against WKU – the second most in C-USA this season and the most against a conference foe.
There was another highlight-reel performance awaiting against Charlotte when she scored nine straight points during a 42-second span to rally Middle Tennessee from an eight-point deficit with 1:08 remaining and help deliver a 79-74 victory to clinch a first-round bye in the league tournament.
Aislynn Hayes' was also spectacular during a remarkable rookie season.
Aislynn Hayes becomes the second straight Lady Raider to be named C-USA Freshman of the Year and the fourth in seven seasons since Middle Tennessee became a league member. She joins Olivia Jones (2013), Alex Johnson (2016) and Taylor Sutton (2019). Overall, she is Middle Tennessee's ninth freshman of the year.
"I'm honored to be named freshman of the year," Aislynn Hayes said. "I'm blessed that my coaches and teammates believe in me and support me. I believe I have been able to improve as the season has progressed, but I'm still learning every day."
Aislynn Hayes was a seven-time C-USA Freshman of the Week honoree, second most in conference history. She was also a three-time recipient of the United States Basketball Writers Association National Freshman of the Week honor – most ever by a single player in the association's history.
Aislynn Hayes is the highest-scoring freshman in the conference with 14.1 points per game, which is good for 10th overall in the league scoring race. She has scored in every game of her collegiate career, including 23 with double figures, while manning the point guard position for the Lady Raiders.
Aislynn Hayes enters the C-USA Championship having score double figures in 10 straight games. She is among C-USA leaders for minutes (second, 36.8), 3-point field goals made per game (sixth, 2.0), assist-turnover ratio (eighth, 1.1) and assists (ninth, 3.1).
The C-USA Player of the Year and Coach of the Year will be announced Wednesday.
C-USA Superlative Awards
Newcomer of the Year – Anastasia Hayes, Middle Tennessee
Freshman of the Year- Aislynn Hayes, Middle Tennessee
Defensive Player of the Year – Nancy Mulkey, Rice
Co-Sixth Player of the Year – Raizel Guinto, LA Tech
Co-Sixth Player of the Year – Aziah Hudson, Old Dominion
Tuesday, the dynamic sisters were honored with two of Conference USA's superlative awards. Anastasia Hayes was named C-USA Newcomer of the Year, and Aislynn Hayes earned the nod for C-USA Freshman of the Year. They are the highest-scoring sister duo in the nation this season, combining to average 32.8 points per game.
"Very, very deserving," Lady Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said. "They were impact players on one of the top teams in the conference and both of them coming in and doing it in their first season with the program. I'm very happy for both of them."
Anastasia Hayes becomes the second straight Lady Raider to be named C-USA Newcomer of the Year, joining A'Queen Hayes, who won the honor last season. Anastasia is the fourth newcomer of the year in Lady Raider history and all four have come under Insell. The other two were Sun Belt honorees Amber Holt (2007) and Alysha Clark (2009).
Anastasia Hayes made an immediate impact for the Lady Raiders and in C-USA, scoring double figures in 28 of 29 games, including 20-plus points in 10 contests. She enters the C-USA Championship with four straight games of 24-plus points.
The dynamic Anastasia Hayes is among the NCAA Top 50 in five categories: free throw attempts (fourth, 221); free throws made (26th, 138), minutes played (22nd, 37.1), scoring (32nd, 18.7) and field goals made (49th, 194). She is also 85th nationally for assists per game (4.4).
Anastasia Hayes is in the Top 4 of four C-USA statistical categories, including minutes (first, 37.1), scoring (second, 18.7), assists (fourth, 4.4) and steals (fourth, 1.9). She is also ninth for assist-turnover ratio with a 1.0 mark.
"I am appreciative of this recognition," said Anastasia Hayes, a three-time C-USA Player of the Week honoree. "The big thing is that our team was able to have success. The goal is to play well and win on the court. It's great being part of a successful team and also being able to share these moments with my sister."
Anastasia Hayes turned in the first triple-double by a guard, and just the second in program history, when she exploded for 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists at Marshall. She was one rebound shy of a triple-double at UTEP and missed another by just one assist against WKU.
Anastasia Hayes poured in a season-high 37 points in the win against WKU – the second most in C-USA this season and the most against a conference foe.
There was another highlight-reel performance awaiting against Charlotte when she scored nine straight points during a 42-second span to rally Middle Tennessee from an eight-point deficit with 1:08 remaining and help deliver a 79-74 victory to clinch a first-round bye in the league tournament.
Aislynn Hayes' was also spectacular during a remarkable rookie season.
Aislynn Hayes becomes the second straight Lady Raider to be named C-USA Freshman of the Year and the fourth in seven seasons since Middle Tennessee became a league member. She joins Olivia Jones (2013), Alex Johnson (2016) and Taylor Sutton (2019). Overall, she is Middle Tennessee's ninth freshman of the year.
"I'm honored to be named freshman of the year," Aislynn Hayes said. "I'm blessed that my coaches and teammates believe in me and support me. I believe I have been able to improve as the season has progressed, but I'm still learning every day."
Aislynn Hayes was a seven-time C-USA Freshman of the Week honoree, second most in conference history. She was also a three-time recipient of the United States Basketball Writers Association National Freshman of the Week honor – most ever by a single player in the association's history.
Aislynn Hayes is the highest-scoring freshman in the conference with 14.1 points per game, which is good for 10th overall in the league scoring race. She has scored in every game of her collegiate career, including 23 with double figures, while manning the point guard position for the Lady Raiders.
Aislynn Hayes enters the C-USA Championship having score double figures in 10 straight games. She is among C-USA leaders for minutes (second, 36.8), 3-point field goals made per game (sixth, 2.0), assist-turnover ratio (eighth, 1.1) and assists (ninth, 3.1).
The C-USA Player of the Year and Coach of the Year will be announced Wednesday.
C-USA Superlative Awards
Newcomer of the Year – Anastasia Hayes, Middle Tennessee
Freshman of the Year- Aislynn Hayes, Middle Tennessee
Defensive Player of the Year – Nancy Mulkey, Rice
Co-Sixth Player of the Year – Raizel Guinto, LA Tech
Co-Sixth Player of the Year – Aziah Hudson, Old Dominion
Players Mentioned
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