DENVER Rices Johnetta Hayes has been named the Western Athletic Conference womens basketball Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 13-19. This is the second career WAC Player of the Week honor for the senior and the first Rice player of the week this season. Hayes earned the final honor of last season.
Hayes, a junior from Houston, led the Lady Owls to two wins last week, propelling them to a 3-2 record in the WAC, tied for third. The Lady Owls earned wins over Boise State and UTEP. This is only the second two-game winning streak for Rice this season as the Lady Owls move to 6-8.
The center averaged 25.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in two games last week. For the season, she averages 14.2 ppg and 8.4 rpg. She spread her rebounds out with eight offensive and 13 defensive. She scored a career-high 23 points against Boise State, then bested that mark against UTEP scoring 28. She also set a career best going nine-of-11 from the free throw line against the Miners. In two games, Hayes was 18-of-26 (.692) from the field and 14-of-16 (.824) from the free throw line.
Also nominated: Natasja Allen, Hawaii; Amber Obaze, Louisiana Tech; Cricket Williams, San Jose State; Sarah Davis, SMU and Alison Carney, Tulsa.