Murray State University Athletics
Hayes Repeats as OVC Player of the Year
3/5/2009 6:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Senior Ashley Hayes became the first Murray State women's basketball player to repeat as Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year when it was announced today that she voted as the 2008-09 OVC Player of the Year by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
Hayes was also named to the All-OVC First Team with fellow senior Amber Guffey. Head coach Rob Cross became just the second Racer coach to be named the OVC Coach of the Year. Jean Smith earned the honor during the 1980-81 campaign in her fourth season on the Murray State bench.
Hayes earned All-OVC First Team honors and the OVC Player of the Year after leading all league players in scoring, with 25 points per game against OVC opponents. The Humboldt, Tenn., native also ranks in the top-10 in the OVC in rebounding (3rd), field-goal percentage (6th), free-throw percentage (2nd), steals (10th), three-point field-goal percentage (7th), and three-pointers made (5th). Her 23.1 points per game in all games ranks her sixth on the NCAA scoring charts this season. The four-year starter has tallied over 20 points in 17 games and over 30 points in seven games this season. Hayes has tallied a team-high 13 double-doubles, including a stretch of five straight.
Guffey is second on the OVC scoring lists with her 20.4 points per game. The Albany, Ky., native is ranked in the top-10 in the OVC in 10 statistical categories, including No. 1 spots in assists, free-throw percentage, assist/turnover ratio, and minutes played. Her 20.4 points per game this season also ranked her 14th on the NCAA charts. She is also in the top-15 in the nation in free-throw percentage (12). Guffey was recently named the 2008-09 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America of the Year for Division I women's basketball and to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team with her sister Paige Guffey.
In his first season at the helm of the women's basketball program, Cross has led the team to its third-straight 20-win season and the fifth in school history. The Racers earned their first OVC regular-season championship under his tutelage and their first No. 1 seed in the OVC Basketball Tournament with a 16-2 record.
Murray State will be in Nashville, Tenn., to battle with No. 5 Austin Peay in the first semifinal of the OVC Basketball Tournament at the Sommet Center.
