Hayes Dishing Out Assists For The Dawgs
December 17, 2022 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE – Anastasia Hayes has proven over her illustrious career that she can score the basketball.
Entering 2022-23, the talented guard had averaged 17.6 points per game during her four-years at Tennessee, Middle Tennessee and Mississippi State. Hayes was second nationally in scoring as a junior (26.5 ppg) and came into this season with the third-most points of any active player in Division I.
When first-year head coach Sam Purcell arrived in March, he had a new challenge for the second team All-SEC performer. Purcell asked Hayes to switch positions and be the Bulldogs' point guard this season.
"Coach told me he needed me to be his PG and wanted to help me grow and get to the pros," Hayes said. "I'm willing to do whatever I can to win and get better."
And while her scoring total has slipped some to 8.5 points per game in her new role, other aspects of Hayes' game have shined. She is currently tied for the SEC lead with 56 assists and is dishing out 5.1 dimes per contest.
"It's a statement to this program because she could be shooting so much but she's willing to pass and make her teammates better," Purcell said. "I think for her at the next level, that's what the pros want to see because at that next level, everybody can score but can you play well with others? She's shown that she can this year."
Hayes' three assists during Thursday night's 72-47 victory over Florida A&M earned her some rare recognition. She is now the only active Division I player with over 2,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists over the course of her career.
"When I see that, it's a blessing to me to be one of one," Hayes said. "I didn't realize that because I don't play off of stats."
Hayes earned her eighth career double-double against Texas A&M-Commerce on Dec. 11. However, this double-double was different because it was the first time she had done it by distributing the basketball as a Bulldog.
Hayes' 10 assists that day were the most she's had at MSU and one shy of her career-high.
"I think it's pretty cool that I can show that not only can I score, but I can do other stuff to like playing defense, getting my teammates involved and make the right reads to make sure they can score the ball," Hayes said. "For me to be able to transition to playing point guard, I'm proud of myself. I've never really played point guard before."
The move from shooting guard into the point guard role is one that Hayes has embraced wholeheartedly. She feels a certain responsibility to ensure her teammates are in the right positions to score and is a big reason why the Bulldogs rank third in the SEC in assists and fourth in scoring.
"The point guard is the floor general and runs the floor," Hayes said. "The ball is in my hands the majority of the time so that's a different role. It's up to me to make the right reads and make sure that all of my teammates have confidence. I'm working on being that team leader and floor general that I need to be. I'm loving it."
