Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Anastasia Hayes earns third C-USA Player of Week honor
1/4/2021 1:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball, BRAA
Junior guard also CSM High-Major National Player of the Week
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee junior guard Anastasia Hayes has been named Conference USA Player of the Week for the third time this season after helping lead the Lady Raiders to a sweep of Florida Atlantic in the opening weekend of league play.
Hayes has also been named College Sports Madness High-Major National Player of the Week for the second time after two more dynamic performances for the C-USA Preseason Co-Player of the Year.
Hayes averaged 28 points, 4.5 rebounds, four assists and two steals in the two wins and reached the 1,000-point milestone for her career in the first quarter of Friday's win against the Owls.
"(Hayes) just continues to turn in one outstanding performance after another," Lady Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said. "She is one of the top guards in the nation and she demonstrates that each time she is on the basketball court."
Hayes, who leads C-USA in scoring (28.6 ppg) and assists (5.1 apg) and is in the Top 10 of six categories, was strong in the clutch in the series finale as the Lady Raiders rallied from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to claim a 66-64 win.
The dynamic guard sank two pressure-packed free throws with 53 seconds remaining to tie the game, 64-64. With the game still tied the Lady Raiders had possession with time running out. Hayes attacked the basket, attracted multiple defenders, and dished the ball to Deja Cage for the game winner with nine-tenths of a second remaining.
Hayes poured in 34 points, grabbed seven rebounds, collected four assists and three steals in the opening game of the series as Middle Tennessee won, 84-65. The outcome was hanging in the balance until midway into the fourth quarter when Hayes ignited a 15-0 run to break the game open. She poured in nine of the 15 points during the run.
"It was a great weekend for our basketball team," said Hayes, who has scored 22-plus points in 11 straight games dating back to last season. "It was a great way to start the conference race with two big wins against a really good FAU team. It took everything we had to get those wins."
Middle Tennessee has won six straight C-USA games dating to last season and will look to extend that streak and remain atop the league's East Division standings when it travels to Miami to face FIU this weekend.
Hayes has also been named College Sports Madness High-Major National Player of the Week for the second time after two more dynamic performances for the C-USA Preseason Co-Player of the Year.
Hayes averaged 28 points, 4.5 rebounds, four assists and two steals in the two wins and reached the 1,000-point milestone for her career in the first quarter of Friday's win against the Owls.
"(Hayes) just continues to turn in one outstanding performance after another," Lady Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said. "She is one of the top guards in the nation and she demonstrates that each time she is on the basketball court."
Hayes, who leads C-USA in scoring (28.6 ppg) and assists (5.1 apg) and is in the Top 10 of six categories, was strong in the clutch in the series finale as the Lady Raiders rallied from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to claim a 66-64 win.
The dynamic guard sank two pressure-packed free throws with 53 seconds remaining to tie the game, 64-64. With the game still tied the Lady Raiders had possession with time running out. Hayes attacked the basket, attracted multiple defenders, and dished the ball to Deja Cage for the game winner with nine-tenths of a second remaining.
Hayes poured in 34 points, grabbed seven rebounds, collected four assists and three steals in the opening game of the series as Middle Tennessee won, 84-65. The outcome was hanging in the balance until midway into the fourth quarter when Hayes ignited a 15-0 run to break the game open. She poured in nine of the 15 points during the run.
"It was a great weekend for our basketball team," said Hayes, who has scored 22-plus points in 11 straight games dating back to last season. "It was a great way to start the conference race with two big wins against a really good FAU team. It took everything we had to get those wins."
Middle Tennessee has won six straight C-USA games dating to last season and will look to extend that streak and remain atop the league's East Division standings when it travels to Miami to face FIU this weekend.
Players Mentioned
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