#21 Anaya Peoples 2020-21 Women's Basketball Roster

AWARDS

• 2021 ACC All-Academic Team member
• 2020 ACC All-Freshman Team
• 2019 Cancun Challenge All-Tournament Team
• ACC Freshman of the Week (Dec. 2, 2019)

CAREER HIGHS

• Points: 22 (vs DePaul, 12/11/19)
• Rebounds: 15 (vs DePaul, 12/11/19)
• Field Goals Made: 11 (vs DePaul, 12/11/19)
• Field Goals Attempted: 16 (at UConn, 12/8/19)
• 3-Point Field Goals Made: 1, 5x (last vs Miami, 3/5/22)
• 3-Point Field Goals Attempted: 4 (at UConn, 12/8/19)
• Free Throws Made: 5, 2x (last vs USF, 11/30/19)
• Free Throws Attempted: 9, 2x (last vs USF, 11/30/19)
• Assists: 6, 2x (last vs Georgia Tech, 1/3/21)
• Blocks: 2, 6x (last vs NC State, 3/26/22)
• Steals: 5 (vs Miami OH, 11/29/20)
• Minutes: 39 (vs South Dakota State, 11/29/19)

MISCELLANEOUS

• Double-figure scoring: 22
• Double-figure rebounds: 8
• Double-doubles: 5
• 20-point games: 1

JUNIOR SEASON (2021-22)

• Entered transfer portal at the end of the season
• Played in 31 games, with 17 starts, averaging 19.8 minutes.
• Peoples contribued six points, all in the first five minutes of the 2nd quarter, in the Sweet 16 matchup vs NC State. Peoples provided a spark in the paint, where she also reeled in four boards.
• Was one of the few bright spots in the Feb. 27 Louisville contest, as she recorded her highest point total since Dec. 12. Peoples notched 9 points on 4-of-7 shooting.
• Anaya was an efficient 4-for-5 for 8 points at Georgia Tech on Feb. 17. It marked her highest scoring output since she tallied 10 vs Purdue Fort-Wayne.
• Peoples posted a solid stat line of 5 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in the win over Virginia Tech on Feb. 3. The highlight being her and-one celebration here: https://twitter.com/ndwbb/status/1489428495314960385?s=20&t=HFyjjM7k1VUSZvxx3Sidng
• Recording her first made basket in 6 games, Peoples provided two clutch buckets in the 2nd half vs No. 3 State, while grabbing 4 boards, to help lift the Irish to victory.
• Small improvement from the free-throw line: Entered the season a 50 percent shooter from the stripe – she finished at 61.8 percent.
• Best start to a game all year at DePaul on Dec. 22. Recorded three and-ones in the first quarter, tallying 7 points in the period. Also finished with a team high 9 boards.
• Most complete game of the season vs Purdue Fort Wayne – near double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds. Efficient 5-for-6 from the field.
• Tied her career high of 2 blocks in the win over Western Illinois.
• Peoples, one of ND’s better rebounding guards, showcased that ability when she reeled in a season high 11 boards against Georgia on Nov. 26. 

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2020-21)

• Played all 20 games, with 19 starts, averaging 28.0 minutes.
• Peoples was the only player in the ACC to average at least 9 points, 6 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 2 assists.
• Peoples owned 2 double-doubles on the year and flirted with three others, coming either one rebound or one point short.
• Double-figures in 9 games. She tied her career-high streak of four straight games in double figures to start the season.
• Anaya tied for the team lead with Maddy with three 5-5-5 ‘Stat-Sheet Stuffer’ games this season. A stat-sheet stuffer is when you get 5 or more in three major stat categories.
• Peoples’ 6.0 rebounding average ranked 2nd on the team. Her 4.5 defensive boards/game ranked 15th in the ACC.
• Defensive Prowess: Anaya’s 1.5 spg ranked 1st on the team and 10th in the ACC. She recorded 4 or more steals in 3 separate games.
• Anaya helped seal the win at Virginia Tech (1/21), scoring 8 of her 11 points in the 4th quarter.
• Tied her season high of 11 rebounds for the 3rd time this season against BC on Jan. 17. Also added 9 points, 4 steals and 5 assists.
• Notched her 2nd ‘Stat-Sheet Stuffer’ with 7 points, 7 rebounds and a career-high tying 6 assists in the 69-67 win over Georgia Tech on Jan. 3.
• Played hero in the win over Virginia Tech (12/17), scoring 13 of her 15 points in the second half. Tied at 75-all, Peoples made a go-ahead layup with 1:19 remaining, then iced it with a driving layup with 31 seconds left.
• Peoples recorded a “stat-sheet stuffer” vs. Miami OH (11/29), tallying 5 assists and a career high 5 steals to go with her 14 point, 11-rebound, double-double.

FRESHMAN SEASON (2019-20) – stat rankings/notes were at time of her injury on Jan. 12

• ACC All-Freshman Team selection
• Played in 17 games, with 10 starts, averaging 31.6 minutes/game. Peoples left the NC State game on Jan. 12 with a shoulder injury and was out the rest of the season after requiring surgery.
• Early favorite for ACC Rookie of the Year, but ultimately nabbed ACC All-Freshman Team honors. Peoples led all ACC freshmen in rebounds (8.1), shooting percentage (.457) and steals (1.9), while ranking second in points (12.6) behind fellow teammate Sam Brunelle.
• Her 8.1 rebounds/game led the team and ranked 11th in the ACC. Peoples also ranked 11th in the ACC in offensive rebounds (2.7) and 13th in defensive boards (5.4). In addition, her 8.1 rebounding average ranked 10th in the nation among true freshmen guards.
• Her 8.1 rebounding average also ranked third all-time as a freshman at ND, ranking behind just Shari Matvey (10.2) an Mary Beth Schueth (9.1).
• There were only five true freshmen in the country averaging over 12.5 ppg and 8 rpg: Anaya Peoples, Evansville’s Abby Feit, UC Santa Barbara’s Ila Lane, South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston and USC’s Alissa Pill. Of that group, Peoples boasted the most steals.
• Her three double-doubles ranked 2nd in the ACC for freshmen only, behind Pitt’s Amber Brown.
• Peoples’ 12.6 ppg ranked 30th in the nation among true freshmen, while her 8.1 rpg ranked 12th.
• Peoples was the most efficient guard from the field, knocking down 45.7 percent of her shots, which ranked 7th in the ACC.
• Brunelle (13.9 ppg), Gilbert (13.6 ppg) and Peoples (12.6 ppg) became the first Notre Dame freshmen trio to finish a season with a double-digit scoring average.
• Garnered career highs in both rebounds (15) and points (22) vs. DePaul on Dec. 11.
• Named to the Cancun Challenge All-Tournament Team, along with earning ACC Rookie of the Week honors. Peoples averaged 17.3 points and 8.7 rebounds down in Cancun. Peoples nearly achieved a double-double in each game, reeling in 9, 8, 9 boards, respectively.
• Averaged 1.9 steals/game, which ranked 5th in the ACC.
• Peoples and Brunelle became the first pair of freshmen starters for a season opener since Teresa Borton & Jacqueline Batteast started the 2001-02 season opener.
• Tallied 11 points & seven rebounds in her Irish debut at Fordham. Peoples scored seven of her points in the third quarter. The freshman then grabbed a critical offensive board off a missed free throw with nine seconds left, before returning to the line to ice the 60-55 win.
• Gilbert & Peoples have played together every summer since they were seven & six years old, respectively.

PREP

• Ranked No. 21 overall by espnW in Class of 2019 and No. 4 at her position.
• Attended Dan Schlarman High School where she played basketball under her father, Keith Peoples.
• Two-time Illinois Class 1A State champion (2018 & 2019).
• Finished her career with 2,086 points.
• 2019 McDonald’s All-American Team
  • Tied for most points on the West Team with 11.
• 2019 Jordan Brand Classic member.
• 2019 WCIA3 Sports Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
• IBCA 1A/2A All-State in 2016, 2017 and 2018
• 2018 Naismith All-America honorable mention.
• 2018 USA Today All-Illinois Player of the Year and First Team.
• Guided Schlarman to a 33-2 record and back-to-back state titles as a senior. Averaged 18.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg and 3.7 apg.
• Averaged 16.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 4.7 spg as a junior. Helped team to a 1A state title.

TEAM USA

• Won the gold medal at the 2018 FIBA Americas with the U18 USA team.
  • Started in two of six games and averaged 5.3 ppg and 3.7 rpg, and tied for a team high with 3.0 apg, helping USA to a 6-0 record and the gold medal in Mexico City.