HUNTINGTON — Lead the league in scoring and you’ll more likely than not be named to the all-conference team.
Aislynn Hayes did just that. The Marshall University senior guard averaged 17.4 points per game this regular season and was rewarded Monday by being named All-Sun Belt Conference first team in women’s basketball.
Hayes, a native of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, also averaged 4.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.0 steals per contest and made 37.3% of her 3-point shots.
The Thundering Herd’s C.C. Mays, a junior from Tampa, Florida, earned third-team honors after averaging 12.2 points and 4.9 rebounds.
“I am incredibly proud of Aislynn Hayes and C.C. Mays for being named All-Conference in the Sun Belt,†MU coach Juli Fulks said.
“Aislynn’s ability to score and elevate her game in crucial moments has been a key to our success, while C.C.’s work ethic and presence on both ends of the floor have been invaluable to our team. Their recognition is a direct result of their dedication and desire for constant improvement and I’m excited to watch their performances during the SBC tournament.â€
Hayes has reached double figures in 25 of the 29 games she played this season and netted 20 points or more in 10 games, with a career best of 31. Hayes also leads the team in assists.
Mays has enjoyed a career year, scoring a season-best 366 points, with 50 3-pointers made and 57 assists. She reached double figures in 17 games.
A pair of former Marshall players also took home awards. Mahogany Matthews of Georgia State is defensive player of the year. Roshala Scott of James Madison is sixth woman of the year.
Peyton McDaniel of James Madison was tabbed player of the year. She and Hayes were joined on the first team by Zay Dyer of Troy, Jakayla Johnson of Louisiana-Monroe and Kseniia Kozlova of James Madison.
Former Pikeville High School star Trinity Rowe of Southern Mississippi is freshman of the year. Louisiana’s Erica Lafayette is top newcomer and James Madison’s Sean O’Regan top coach.
Lafayette also made the second team, along with Savannah Brooks (Coastal Carolina), En’Dya Buford (Old Dominion), Melyia Grayson (Southern Miss) and Zyion Shannon (Arkansas State).
Joining Mays on the third unit is Ashanti Barnes (James Madison), Alancia Ramsey (Coastal Carolina), Crislyn Rose (Arkansas State) and Mikyla Tolivert (Georgia State).
ANOCHILI-KILLEN HONORED: After leading the Sun Belt Conference and ranking second nationally with 90 blocked shots, it’s no wonder that Obinna Anochili-Killen was named the league defensive player of the year and an All-Sun Belt second-teamer on Monday.
Anochili-Killen is Marshall’s all-time leader in blocked shots and had 70 in SBC play. He finished the season shooting 56.3%, averaging 13.9 points per game. He scored in double figures in 23 of 30 games this season and had five outings of 20-plus points.
Anochili-Killen’s second-team recognition is the only honor for the Herd this season as it closed as the No. 5 seed ahead of this week’s SBC tournament.
Troy’s Tayton Conerway was named SBC Player of the Year, the Trojans’ first player to win the award, after averaging more than16 points per game in conference play and leading the league in steals (91).
JMU’s Mark Freeman was named SBC newcomer of the year, averaging 17.2 points in SBC play. He was the only player in the league with five 25-point games, all in conference games.
SBC freshman of the year honors went to JMU’s Bryce Lindsay, shooting 41.5% from 3-point range and netting 86 threes — the most nationally by a freshman. Lindsay was also named the SBC sixth man of the year.
In a season with four teams sharing a regular season crown, South Alabama’s Richie Riley was named SBC coach of the year after the Jaguars won their first regular season conference championship in 17 years. USA was sixth nationally in field goal percentage defense (.384) and was a top 20 scoring defense. The Jaguars won four games in SBC play by 25 or more points.
Conerway and Freeman were joined by South Alabama’s Barry Dunning, Appalachian State’s Myles Tate and Arkansas State’s Taryn Todd on the first team.
Anochili-Killen is joined by Georgia State’s Cesare Edwards, Southern Mississippi’s Denijay Harris, Appalachian State’s CJ Huntley and Texas State’s Tylan Pope on the second team.
Lindsay is joined by South Alabama’s Myles Corey, Old Dominion’s Sean Durugordon, Georgia Southern’s Adante’ Holiman and Arkansas State’s Izaiyah Nelson on the third team.
