by TONY STINNETT, MT Athletic Communications
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Sisters Anastasia and Aislynn Hayes have enjoyed many memorable moments and achieved high standards during their first season playing together at the college level.
They set a new standard Monday, becoming the first sisters ever to sweep the Conference USA Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week honors. It is only the second time it has occurred in Division I basketball. Liberty's Megan Frazee and Moriah Frazee swept the Big South honors Dec. 5, 2005.
It marks the third time Anastasia Hayes has been named Conference USA Player of the Week this season, while Aislynn Hayes won the Freshman of the Week honor for the seventh time, which is the second most of any freshman in league history.
"It is certainly deserving," Lady Raider Head Coach Rick Insell said. "Both Anastasia and Aislynn had major impacts in us winning a very important Conference USA game against Western Kentucky. They both stepped up in a big way."
The sisters combined for 62 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists in Middle Tennessee's 108-103 double-overtime win with both turning in career-high performances.
Anastasia Hayes collected her third career double-double with a career-high 37 points and 11 rebounds. She just missed a triple-double for the second straight game, finishing with eight assists.
The 37 points are the second-most in a single game in Conference USA this season and the most against a league foe.
The redshirt sophomore was 15-of-19 from the free-throw line, including 8-of-10 in the two overtime periods. The 15 free throws tied for the fourth most in program history. She was 11-of-21 from the field overall.
Anastasia Hayes came up big in the clutch with 12 points, three rebounds and three assists in the overtime periods, while playing 48:46 of the 50-minute game.
Anastasia Hayes has scored 20-plus points in seven games this season, including two contests with 30-plus points.
Aislynn Hayes was also dynamic. She tied her career of 25 points on the strength of 10 field goals, also tying her career high.
Aislynn Hayes was 10-of-19 from the field for a 53 percent shooting clip and played the entire 50 minutes.
Like her sister, Aislynn Hayes was also clutch when it mattered most, scoring nine of her 25 points in the two overtime periods. Aislynn Hayes was 3-of-4 from the field in the overtimes, including a clutch 3-pointer with two minutes remaining in the first overtime to erase an 86-83 deficit and tie the game for the 12th time.
Aislynn Hayes has scored in every game, including 21 in double figures. She has scored 20-plus eight times. She also added four rebounds.
C-USA Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week are chosen by a vote of the league's 14 communication directors. All C-USA weekly awards are presented by Top of the World.
Middle Tennessee will play host to North Texas Thursday at 6:30 p.m. It will be Senior Night as the Lady Raiders honor their lone senior, Charity Savage.
