Hayes Named CUSA Player of the Week

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU women’s basketball sophomore guard Acacia Hayes has been named the Conference USA Player of the Week the league announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Through three games last week, Hayes averaged 20.7 points per game and shot 47.4 percent (9-19) from 3-point range, 86.4 percent (19-22) from the free throw line and 41.5 percent (17-41) from the field.

The Murfreesboro, Tennessee native started out the week with a 19-point, 4-assist and 2-steal performance in a win against Abilene Christian. She put up 20 points and three rebounds and was a perfect 10-of-10 from the free throw line in a win against Nevada in the Lady Bear Classic in Springfield, Missouri. She then followed up with 23 points against the host school Missouri State. Hayes scored 13 of her 23 points in that game in the fourth quarter when the Lady Toppers overcame a 15-point deficit with 5:03 left in the game to draw within one at the final buzzer.

Hayes has had an impressive sophomore season so far. She’s CUSA’s leading scorer, averaging 17.1 points per game and her 240 total points for the season lead the league and is the 25th most in the country. She has made 63 free throws this season, which is the 11th most of any player in the nation.

This is Hayes’ first conference Player of the Week honor. She was named CUSA Freshman of the Week twice last season.

Hayes and the Lady Toppers will be back in action against West Virginia State on Friday, Dec. 29 to close out non-conference play. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. in E.A. Diddle Arena.