Per GoBearcats:
University of Cincinnati women’s basketball junior guard Jillian Hayes was named to the AAC Preseason All-Conference Second Team on Wednesday.
The Cincinnati native was the only Bearcat to start all 28 games last season, averaging 11.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 31.7 minutes per game. Hayes led the team in points, rebounds, steals and blocks, ranking second in the conference with 2.2 steals, seventh with 1.4 blocks and tenth in rebounds per game. She finished in double figures in 16 games, including 10 conference contests, and recorded a career-high 23 points on 9-15 from the field against Central Michigan on Dec. 1.
Hayes’ averages increased to 7.0 rebounds and 12.1 points per game in AAC play, first and second among conference sophomores, respectively.
Cincinnati was selected to finish ninth in conference, while South Florida was chosen as the predicted favorite for the second straight season with nine first place votes. Bulls’ senior Elena Tsineke was named as the AAC Preseason Player of the Year.
Hayes is one of ten returners on a team that welcomes back 79 percent of its minutes and 66 percent of its scoring production as the Bearcats enter the fifth season under head coach Michelle Clark-Heard. The Bearcats also welcome the addition of three assistant coaches and three newcomers in the offseason.
The complete predicted order of finish and preseason selections are listed below.
Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. South Florida (9) 99
2. Houston (2) 89
3. SMU 73
4. Tulsa 66
T-5. Tulane 56
Memphis 56
7. Temple 43
8. UCF 38
9. Cincinnati 34
10. Wichita State 32
11. East Carolina 19
First-place votes in parenthesis
Preseason Player of the Year
Elena Tsineke, Sr., G, South Florida
Preseason All-Conference First Team
Laila Blair, Jr., G, Houston*
Elena Tsineke, Sr., G, South Florida
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, Sr., F, South Florida
Savannah Wilkinson, Sr., F, SMU*
Temira Poindexter, So., F, Tulsa
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Jillian Hayes, Jr, G, Cincinnati
Jamirah Shutes, 5th, G, Memphis
Dynah Jones, Gr., G, Tulane
Maddie Bittle, Sr., G, Tulsa
Maya Mayberry, Sr., G, Tulsa
*denotes unanimous selection
