Coming off one of the best seasons in program history, the Eastern Kentucky University women’s basketball program announced the signing of local product Love Mays, a transfer guard from UT Martin, to its 2024-25 roster. Head coach Greg Todd made the announcement on Wednesday morning.
Mays is the second signee out of the transfer portal this offseason for the Colonels. She joins EKU after her freshman season with the Skyhawks, where she played in 32 games and averaged 4.6 points and 1.3 assists per game. Love played 39 minutes in the NCAA Tournament First Four against Holy Cross, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds.
“It’s a great day when you are able to sign a local player to your roster who competed in the NCAA Tournament last season,” said Todd. “Love will add depth to our guard position, and I expect her to flourish in our up-tempo system as we prepare to compete for championships next March.”
Last season with UT Martin, Mays started in 10 of her 32 games played and helped the Skyhawks to an appearance in the Ohio Valley Conference finals. The Skyhawks earned the league’s automatic qualifier despite losing to Southern Indiana in the finals, who was ineligible for the tournament due to its reclassification status.
Love had five games scoring in double figures, including 15 points against Vanderbilt and a career-high 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting at home against Evansville. She also scored 10 or more points against Eastern Illinois, Tennessee Tech twice, and in the NCAA Tournament against Holy Cross. Mays was fourth on the team with 41 steals.
In high school, Love averaged 21.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game at local Danville High School during her senior season. She earned Lexington Herald-Leader All-State honors after helping DHS to a district championship and ended the season being named the Most Valuable Player in the “Battle at the Border” Ohio-Kentucky All-Star Game, leading all scorers with 23 points.
Mays was also named The Advocate-Messenger Area Player of the Year and 12th Region Sports MVP. She finished runner-up in the 12th Region Three-Point Contest.
Mays is scheduled to report to campus this summer to begin camp in preparation for the 2024-25 season.
EKU is coming off its first 20-win season since 2005 and its first national postseason tournament appearance (WNIT) since 2013. The Colonels advanced to the Atlantic Sun Conference semifinals and had two student-athletes named all-conference.
