TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball guard Jillian Hayes (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland HS) has been named to the American Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team by the league's coaches.
Hayes is the fourth UC player to be named to the AAC All-Freshmen Team, joining IImar'I Thomas (2018), Bianca Quisenberry (2014) and Anna Owens (2015).
Hayes, who has started 18 of 22 games for the Bearcats this season, averages 7.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals. She leads the team in steals and ranks third among active players in points, rebounds and blocks.
Hayes enters the postseason ranked among AAC freshmen leaders in blocks (first at 1.1), defensive rebounds (first at 4.3), assists (third at 2.9) and minutes played (third at 32.5). Among all players in the league she ranks 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th in those categories, respectively.
Hayes was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll after scoring a game-high 17 points with a pair of 3-pointers, four assists and two blocks against Wichita State on Jan. 27.
A solid performer for UC this season, Hayes has scored in double figures in seven games, including a career-high 20 points on 9-of-16 shooting at Temple on Jan. 13. The game prior she scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds against Tulane on Jan. 9.
Hayes has handed out four or more assists in six of the last 10 games, swiped three or more steals four times this season and posted three or more blocks four times in 2020-21.
2021 AAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL REGULAR-SEASON AWARDS
Player of the Year
IImar'I Thomas, Sr., F, Cincinnati
Freshman of the Year
JerKaila Jordan, Fr., G, Tulane*
Coach of the Year
Jose Fernandez, USF
Defensive Player of the Year
Lashonda Monk, Sr., G, East Carolina
Newcomer of the Year
Alisha Lewis, So., G, UCF
Most Improved Player of the Year
Elisa Pinzan, Jr., PG, USF
Co-Sixth Players of the Year
Alisha Lewis, So., G, UCF
Maria Alvarez, So., G, USF
Ambassador Award
Sierra Cheatham, Sr., G, Tulane
First Team All-Conference
IImar'I Thomas, Sr., F, Cincinnati*
Bethy Mununga, Sr., F, USF
Elena Tsineke, So., G, USF
Mia Davis, Sr., F, Temple
JerKaila Jordan, Fr. G, Tulane
Second Team All-Conference
Courtajia Sanders, Sr., G, UCF
Lashonda Monk, Sr., G, East Carolina
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, Sr., F, Memphis
Elisa Pinzan, Jr., PG, USF
Asia Strong, Jr., F, Wichita State
Third Team All-Conference
Brittney Smith, Jr., F, UCF
Miya Crump, R-So., G, Houston
Sydni Harvey, Jr., G, USF
Krystal Freeman, Sr., F, Tulane
Maya Mayberry, Jr., G, Tulsa
All-Freshman Team
Jillian Hayes, Fr., G, Cincinnati
Laila Blair, Fr., G, Houston
Jasha Clinton, Fr., G, Temple*
JerKaila Jordan, Fr., G, Tulane*
Wyvette Mayberry, Fr., G, Tulsa*
*denotes unanimous selection
UP NEXT
Cincinnati takes on Memphis in first-round action at the AAC Championship, Mar. 8, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Hayes is the fourth UC player to be named to the AAC All-Freshmen Team, joining IImar'I Thomas (2018), Bianca Quisenberry (2014) and Anna Owens (2015).
Hayes, who has started 18 of 22 games for the Bearcats this season, averages 7.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals. She leads the team in steals and ranks third among active players in points, rebounds and blocks.
Hayes enters the postseason ranked among AAC freshmen leaders in blocks (first at 1.1), defensive rebounds (first at 4.3), assists (third at 2.9) and minutes played (third at 32.5). Among all players in the league she ranks 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th in those categories, respectively.
Hayes was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll after scoring a game-high 17 points with a pair of 3-pointers, four assists and two blocks against Wichita State on Jan. 27.
A solid performer for UC this season, Hayes has scored in double figures in seven games, including a career-high 20 points on 9-of-16 shooting at Temple on Jan. 13. The game prior she scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds against Tulane on Jan. 9.
Hayes has handed out four or more assists in six of the last 10 games, swiped three or more steals four times this season and posted three or more blocks four times in 2020-21.
2021 AAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL REGULAR-SEASON AWARDS
Player of the Year
IImar'I Thomas, Sr., F, Cincinnati
Freshman of the Year
JerKaila Jordan, Fr., G, Tulane*
Coach of the Year
Jose Fernandez, USF
Defensive Player of the Year
Lashonda Monk, Sr., G, East Carolina
Newcomer of the Year
Alisha Lewis, So., G, UCF
Most Improved Player of the Year
Elisa Pinzan, Jr., PG, USF
Co-Sixth Players of the Year
Alisha Lewis, So., G, UCF
Maria Alvarez, So., G, USF
Ambassador Award
Sierra Cheatham, Sr., G, Tulane
First Team All-Conference
IImar'I Thomas, Sr., F, Cincinnati*
Bethy Mununga, Sr., F, USF
Elena Tsineke, So., G, USF
Mia Davis, Sr., F, Temple
JerKaila Jordan, Fr. G, Tulane
Second Team All-Conference
Courtajia Sanders, Sr., G, UCF
Lashonda Monk, Sr., G, East Carolina
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, Sr., F, Memphis
Elisa Pinzan, Jr., PG, USF
Asia Strong, Jr., F, Wichita State
Third Team All-Conference
Brittney Smith, Jr., F, UCF
Miya Crump, R-So., G, Houston
Sydni Harvey, Jr., G, USF
Krystal Freeman, Sr., F, Tulane
Maya Mayberry, Jr., G, Tulsa
All-Freshman Team
Jillian Hayes, Fr., G, Cincinnati
Laila Blair, Fr., G, Houston
Jasha Clinton, Fr., G, Temple*
JerKaila Jordan, Fr., G, Tulane*
Wyvette Mayberry, Fr., G, Tulsa*
*denotes unanimous selection
UP NEXT
Cincinnati takes on Memphis in first-round action at the AAC Championship, Mar. 8, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.