#24 Ayana Dunning Season 2024-25
FRESHMAN SEASON (2008-09)
Talented true freshman forward/center who saw limited playing time early but emerged midway through the season … Underwent minor surgery to her left knee in the summer prior to the season … Played in 23 games with nine straight starts from Jan. 3 at Connecticut to Feb. 1 versus Auburn … Averaged 5.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 13.7 minutes per game … Knocked down two free throws in her debut against #16/14 Notre Dame on Nov. 16 … Reached double-figures for the first time in her career in a dominating outing at Centenary on Dec. 20 … Poured in 10 points with three rebounds and buried her first career 3-pointer on her first attempt against the Ladies … Finished 4-of-5 from the floor in 16 minutes at Centenary … Carried the momentum from her Centenary performance into the Florida State game on Dec. 28 … Registered 11 points on a perfect 5-of-5 effort from the floor with six rebounds, a block and a steal in 17 minutes before fouling out … Nearly had a double-double with 11 points and nine boards versus Nebraska on Jan. 1 … Also had three assists and took over down low in the second half while playing 28 minutes against the Huskers … Eight of her nine boards came in the second half with five on the offensive end … Earned first career start at No. 1 Connecticut on Jan. 3 and finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 12 points, nine rebounds and two assists … Played a career-best 34 minutes against the Huskies … Grabbed four rebounds in 11 minutes while earning the start at Arkansas on Jan. 8 … Had five points and five boards versus Alabama on Jan. 11 … Pulled down six rebounds at New Orleans on Jan. 14 … Recorded her first career double-double with a career-high 20 points and 10 rebounds at #18 Vanderbilt on Jan. 18 … Finished 8-of-12 from the field and knocked down four free throws in 32 minutes … Tallied a career-high and game-high 13 rebounds with nine points against Mississippi State on Jan. 22 … Connected on 5-of-5 from the free throw line against the Lady Bulldogs … Pitched in four points and eight rebounds in 20 minutes at Kentucky on Jan. 25 … Came in for 14 minutes and put in six points to go along with six rebounds with no turnovers at Ole Miss on March 1.
HIGH SCHOOL
Outstanding low post presence at Eastmoor Academy where she started 77 career games … Ranked as the 12th-best player in the nation by HoopGurlz.com and the third-best post player … Averaged 17.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game for her career … Played in the 2008 McDonald’s All-American Game and was a WBCA All-American … A finalist for Ms. Basketball by Parade Magazine … Holds the career scoring and rebounding record at Eastmoor … Averaged 18.4 points, 13.1 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game as a senior … Averaged 19.8 points, 14.0 rebounds and 3.2 blocks as a junior … A two-time first-team all-state selection and the 2008 Central District Player of the Year … Member of four district championship teams and two regional champion squads … Coached in basketball by Jim Miranda … Also played volleyball for four years … An honor student all four years of her career and a finalist for the Columbus Public Schools Writing Contest.
PERSONAL
Full name is Ayana Mariama Dunning … Born Feb. 25, 1990, in Columbus, Ohio … Daughter of Alfred and Charlotte Dunning … Has two sisters, Shakir and Karen … Chose to attend LSU because of the “family atmosphere and advanced technology and academic support available to students” … Plans to major in business.
DUNNING’S CAREER HIGHS
Points: 20 at #18 Vanderbilt; Jan. 18, 2009
Rebounds: 13 vs. Mississippi State; Jan. 22, 2009
Field Goals: 8 at #18 Vanderbilt; Jan. 18, 2009
FG Attempts: 12 at #18 Vanderbilt; Jan. 18, 2009
3-Pt Field Goals: 1 at Centenary; Dec. 20, 2008
3-Pt FG Attempts: 1 at Centenary; Dec. 20, 2008
Free Throws: 4 at #1 Connecticut; Jan. 3, 2009; 4 at #18 Vanderbilt; Jan. 18, 2009
FT Attempts: 6 at #18 Vanderbilt; Jan. 18, 2009
Assists: 3 vs. Nebraska; Jan. 1, 2009; 3 at South Carolina; Jan. 29, 2009
Steals: 2 vs. Southeastern Louisiana; Dec. 18, 2008; 2 vs. Kentucky; Feb. 22, 2009
Blocks: 1 six times
Minutes: 34 at #1 Connecticut; Jan. 3, 2009