One of the top returnees in the Big Sky Conference this season, Hays was the only freshman to receive All-Big Sky First Team honors last season. Hays led the Bengals in points, rebounds, minutes, and steals last season. The Missoula native ranked second in free throw percentage (.787), third in rebounding (8.2 rpg.), third in steals (2.10 spg.), fourth in field goal percentage (.483), and 10th in scoring (12.0) in the Big Sky Conference last season. She also ranked sixth in the Big Sky with six double-doubles on the season. She ranked first among Big Sky freshmen in field goal percentage, rebounding, and free throw percentage.

Hays scored a game-high 17 points in last season's WNIT game against Iowa State.

2003-04: Led the team in nearly ever statistical category as a freshman... Also ranked among the top five in four statistical categories in the Big Sky Conference... Had a career-high 24 points in just her fourth collegiate game against Lehigh (11/29)... Was an impressive 9-of-11 from the field against Lehigh (11/29)... Recorded six double-doubles during the season... Had a career-high 17 rebound night against nationally-ranked Colorado (11/28)... Tallied 10 or more rebounds in nine games during the season... Was named Big Sky Player of the Week after averaging 13.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, two assists, and two steals per game in three games against Boise State (11/25), Colorado (11/28), and Lehigh (11/29)... Had a 12 rebound, 23 point performance against Denver (12/5)... Connected on 13-of-15 free throws against Weber State (2/7), tying her for the highest total of made free throws in the Big Sky Conference in a single game... Hays' 102 free throws made during the season ranks her sixth on the all-time single season ISU record list, while her free throw percentage of 79.7 is the fourth-best single season average in ISU history... Hays' 61 steals is the seventh-highest single season total in ISU history.

High School: A multi-sport athlete who was named All-State three times at Hellgate High School in basketball... During the 2002-03 basketball season Hays averaged 14.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game... She led HHS to its best showing in the state tournament since 1994 with a runner up finish... Helped Hellgate to three straight state tournaments... She played her best ball during the state tournament, averaging 20.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest... Earned a slew of awards her senior year including All-Conference, All-State, Team MVP, All-State Tournament... Was named to the Super-State Team and was picked to play in the Montana-Wyoming All-Star Game... In her career she ranks second in school history in scoring, second in rebounding, third in assists and fifth in steals... Also earned four letters in both volleyball and softball... Also concerned about her work in the classroom, Hays was a member of the Key Club, the National Honor Society, the Flagship Program, the Yearbook, and Quill and Scroll.

Personal: Parents are Eric and Deb Hays... Has three sisters, Kelly and Kristy Petrino (twins) and Mandy (her twin) and one brother, Jeff... Her father, Eric played basketball at Montana and is a member of the Hall of Fame at the school... Her grandfather, Ken Hays, played basketball at Oregon and in the American Basketball Association (ABA)... Her sister Kristy played volleyball at Carroll College, while her other sister, Kelly, played softball at the University of Puget Sound... Her brother Jeff played basketball at Montana and Caroll College... Plans to major in mass communications at ISU.