Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus UCF on January 31, 2026 , Win , 65, to, 52
Final
Women's Basketball
65
UCF
52
Iowa State University Athletics
Mays Feeling at Home in Ames
07.06.2011 | Women's Basketball
AMES, Iowa - Iowa State women's basketball player Kileah Mays has only six years of basketball experience. It wasn't until seventh grade that Mays gave basketball a try, simply because her best friend wanted her to join the team.
"Originally I started playing basketball because of my best friend," Mays said. "But then I started to really enjoy it, so I kept with it."
After playing both volleyball and basketball in junior high, Mays became more serious about basketball. The Duncanville, Texas native started playing on the Liberty 360 AAU basketball team with fellow Cyclone teammate Nikki Moody her freshman year of high school.
During her junior campaign at Duncanville High School, Mays averaged 12.0 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Pantherettes.
Basketball runs in the Mays' family, so she feels right at home in Ames. The 6-foot-1-inch center thinks of Fennelly as a basketball coach, and a "life" coach as well.
"Coach Fennelly is the type of person that is going to be there for you, but at the same time he's going to make you do what you have to," Mays said. "At the end of the day he has your back. He tells us go home, hug your family and is always giving words of wisdom."
The level of competition in the Big 12 Conference made the decision for Mays an easy one. One of Mays' former Duncanville teammates will play at Kansas this season, making the road trip to Lawrence, Kan., one Mays looks forward to most.
"I look at the Big 12 as a challenge because you have to stand up and play harder for yourself," Mays said. "You can't really slack off because everybody's going to be even better than you expect."
In order to be competitive, Mays plans to work on keeping space between herself and her defender, as well as keeping the ball up high in the post. Mays may be at a height disadvantage in the paint, which is why she wants to focus on getting in correct rebounding position as well.
In her first few weeks in Ames, Mays has been adjusting to the new environment through the help of her teammates' energy and enthusiasm. Whether it be a supportive cheer or high-five, Mays feels welcome and excited to be in Cardinal and Gold.
"If you do something well you are rewarded and after practice everybody shakes hands," Mays said. "So even if you had a bad game or practice people are still going to show their appreciation and that's what I like most so far [about the team]."
Originally from North Carolina, and having spent her high school career in Texas, Mays is still adapting to the Division I environment.
"I knew coming here would make me push forward to reaching my goals," Mays said. "I can't slack off."
"Originally I started playing basketball because of my best friend," Mays said. "But then I started to really enjoy it, so I kept with it."
After playing both volleyball and basketball in junior high, Mays became more serious about basketball. The Duncanville, Texas native started playing on the Liberty 360 AAU basketball team with fellow Cyclone teammate Nikki Moody her freshman year of high school.
During her junior campaign at Duncanville High School, Mays averaged 12.0 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Pantherettes.
Basketball runs in the Mays' family, so she feels right at home in Ames. The 6-foot-1-inch center thinks of Fennelly as a basketball coach, and a "life" coach as well.
"Coach Fennelly is the type of person that is going to be there for you, but at the same time he's going to make you do what you have to," Mays said. "At the end of the day he has your back. He tells us go home, hug your family and is always giving words of wisdom."
The level of competition in the Big 12 Conference made the decision for Mays an easy one. One of Mays' former Duncanville teammates will play at Kansas this season, making the road trip to Lawrence, Kan., one Mays looks forward to most.
"I look at the Big 12 as a challenge because you have to stand up and play harder for yourself," Mays said. "You can't really slack off because everybody's going to be even better than you expect."
In order to be competitive, Mays plans to work on keeping space between herself and her defender, as well as keeping the ball up high in the post. Mays may be at a height disadvantage in the paint, which is why she wants to focus on getting in correct rebounding position as well.
In her first few weeks in Ames, Mays has been adjusting to the new environment through the help of her teammates' energy and enthusiasm. Whether it be a supportive cheer or high-five, Mays feels welcome and excited to be in Cardinal and Gold.
"If you do something well you are rewarded and after practice everybody shakes hands," Mays said. "So even if you had a bad game or practice people are still going to show their appreciation and that's what I like most so far [about the team]."
Originally from North Carolina, and having spent her high school career in Texas, Mays is still adapting to the Division I environment.
"I knew coming here would make me push forward to reaching my goals," Mays said. "I can't slack off."
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballSaturday, March 21
Friday, March 20
Friday, March 20
Sunday, March 15
