Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Hayes named to Midseason Player of Year Watch List
1/6/2021 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball, BRAA
Guard one of 15 on list for Becky Hammon Mid-Major Award
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee junior guard Anastasia Hayes has been named to the Midseason Watch List for the 2021 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award, as announced by Her Hoop Stats Wednesday.
Hayes is one of 15 student-athletes representing 14 teams and 10 conferences to earn a spot on the Midseason Watch List. The award is presented by Her Hoop Stats.
The 10 semifinalists will be announced in February, with five finalists being announced in early March. The winner will be announced in late March.
"I am honored to be included on this list with these outstanding basketball players," Hayes said. "I appreciate the consideration from committee members for this honor."
Hayes is in the midst of an outstanding season for Middle Tennessee. The junior guard leads the nation in scoring with 28.6 points per game and has scored 22-plus points in each game. She has scored 34-plus points twice. In addition to her scoring prowess, Hayes also leads Conference USA in assists with 5.1 per game.
In fact, Hayes ranks in the Top 40 of six categories nationally and she is in the Top 3 of six categories in C-USA. The dynamic standout is first nationally for free throw attempts (90), eighth for free throws made (53) and 10th in field goals made (69). She leads C-USA in each of those statistical categories. Her 5.1 assists per game are 39th nationally. Hayes also averages 6.9 rebounds per game.
"Anastasia is a sensational talent and she is having a great season," Lady Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said. "She is very deserving to be included on the Midseason Watch List for the Becky Hammon Player of the Year Award, and I'm glad she is receiving the recognition. She impacts the game in so many ways. I believe she is one of the best guards in the country. I know I'm glad she's on our team."
Hayes reached the 1,000-point milestone against Florida Atlantic last Friday. She is a three-time C-USA Player of the Week, a two-time College Sports Madness High-Major National Player of the Week and a two-time Tennessee Sports Writers Player of the Week.
Becky Hammon was a three-time All-American during her career at Colorado State and led the Rams to the Sweet 16 in 1999, the program's only appearance to date. She was signed by the New York Liberty in 1999 and traded to the San Antonio Stars in 2007, where she played the rest of her career.
Hammon retired in 2014 as a six-time All-Star and a two-time All-WNBA First Team honoree. In 2016 she was named one of the top 20 players in WNBA history. Hammon became the second female coach in NBA history when she began coaching for the San Antonio Spurs in 2014. Additionally, Hammon is the only woman to be a head coach in the NBA Summer League as well as the only woman to be a member of an NBA All-Star coaching staff.
Her Hoops Stats was founded in 2017 to unlock better insight about women's basketball at all levels. It began as a statistics site focused on providing consistent, reliable, and easy-to-access data about women's basketball for both mobile and desktop environments. Her Hoop Stats has expanded to become a leading independent voice in the women's game providing content through its newsletter, podcast and social media accounts.
Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year
Midseason Watch List
Kierstan Bell, FGCU, Guard, Soph.
Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo, Guard, Soph.
Lexi Fleming, Bowling Green, Guard, Fr.
Anastasia Hayes, Middle Tennessee, Guard, R-Jr.
Cece Hooks, Ohio, Guard, Sr.
Kionna Jeter, Towson, Guard, R-Sr.
Erica Johnson, Ohio, Guard, R-Jr.
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan, Guard, Sr.
Blanca Millan, Maine, Guard, R-Sr.
Nancy Mulkey, Rice, C. Sr.
Chelsey Perry, UT-Martin, Forward, Sr.
Hannah Sjerven, South Dakota, C, Sr.
IImar'I Thomas, Cincinnati, Forward, Sr.
Jill Townsend, Gonzaga, Guard, Sr.
Macee Williams, IUPUI, Forward, Sr.
Hayes is one of 15 student-athletes representing 14 teams and 10 conferences to earn a spot on the Midseason Watch List. The award is presented by Her Hoop Stats.
The 10 semifinalists will be announced in February, with five finalists being announced in early March. The winner will be announced in late March.
"I am honored to be included on this list with these outstanding basketball players," Hayes said. "I appreciate the consideration from committee members for this honor."
Hayes is in the midst of an outstanding season for Middle Tennessee. The junior guard leads the nation in scoring with 28.6 points per game and has scored 22-plus points in each game. She has scored 34-plus points twice. In addition to her scoring prowess, Hayes also leads Conference USA in assists with 5.1 per game.
In fact, Hayes ranks in the Top 40 of six categories nationally and she is in the Top 3 of six categories in C-USA. The dynamic standout is first nationally for free throw attempts (90), eighth for free throws made (53) and 10th in field goals made (69). She leads C-USA in each of those statistical categories. Her 5.1 assists per game are 39th nationally. Hayes also averages 6.9 rebounds per game.
"Anastasia is a sensational talent and she is having a great season," Lady Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said. "She is very deserving to be included on the Midseason Watch List for the Becky Hammon Player of the Year Award, and I'm glad she is receiving the recognition. She impacts the game in so many ways. I believe she is one of the best guards in the country. I know I'm glad she's on our team."
Hayes reached the 1,000-point milestone against Florida Atlantic last Friday. She is a three-time C-USA Player of the Week, a two-time College Sports Madness High-Major National Player of the Week and a two-time Tennessee Sports Writers Player of the Week.
Becky Hammon was a three-time All-American during her career at Colorado State and led the Rams to the Sweet 16 in 1999, the program's only appearance to date. She was signed by the New York Liberty in 1999 and traded to the San Antonio Stars in 2007, where she played the rest of her career.
Hammon retired in 2014 as a six-time All-Star and a two-time All-WNBA First Team honoree. In 2016 she was named one of the top 20 players in WNBA history. Hammon became the second female coach in NBA history when she began coaching for the San Antonio Spurs in 2014. Additionally, Hammon is the only woman to be a head coach in the NBA Summer League as well as the only woman to be a member of an NBA All-Star coaching staff.
Her Hoops Stats was founded in 2017 to unlock better insight about women's basketball at all levels. It began as a statistics site focused on providing consistent, reliable, and easy-to-access data about women's basketball for both mobile and desktop environments. Her Hoop Stats has expanded to become a leading independent voice in the women's game providing content through its newsletter, podcast and social media accounts.
Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year
Midseason Watch List
Kierstan Bell, FGCU, Guard, Soph.
Dyaisha Fair, Buffalo, Guard, Soph.
Lexi Fleming, Bowling Green, Guard, Fr.
Anastasia Hayes, Middle Tennessee, Guard, R-Jr.
Cece Hooks, Ohio, Guard, Sr.
Kionna Jeter, Towson, Guard, R-Sr.
Erica Johnson, Ohio, Guard, R-Jr.
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan, Guard, Sr.
Blanca Millan, Maine, Guard, R-Sr.
Nancy Mulkey, Rice, C. Sr.
Chelsey Perry, UT-Martin, Forward, Sr.
Hannah Sjerven, South Dakota, C, Sr.
IImar'I Thomas, Cincinnati, Forward, Sr.
Jill Townsend, Gonzaga, Guard, Sr.
Macee Williams, IUPUI, Forward, Sr.
Players Mentioned
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