Layfield’s fans saw her break a Dayton record. She entered the game with 374 rebounds this season and grabbed 13 boards in an 84-65 loss to Marquette to finish her career with 387. Ann Meyers had owned the single-season record of 377 since her freshman season in 1976-77.
“That is great company,” Layfield said.
Layfield fell just short of Meyers’ single-season rebounding average record of 13.0. She averaged 12.9. She had no idea she was close to those records, but said rebounding has always been a big part of her game.
“It’s really just hustle,” she said. “That’s what rebounding is about it. It’s not even technique. If I can get the inside position while I’m trying to get the offensive rebound, it helps me out. Other than, it’s just saying, ‘I’m going to get the ball,’ and going to get the ball.”
Layfield increased her rebounding average from 7.6 to 12.9 this season. She still has a chance to break Meyers’ single-season rebounding average record of 13.0.
The 5-foot-11 Layfield ranks fourth in the country in rebounding average. Everyone else in the top 15 is at least 6-0.
“Last year, she did it at a high level,” Dayton coach Shauna Green said, “and this year she’s been rebounding at an elite level. When you talk about her being in the top four or five in the country of rebounding at 5-10 — we just measured ourselves in the hallway, and I am taller than her; I’m 6-0, so she’s under my size — it’s amazing. What she does is amazing at her height. I can’t teach it. I wish I could sit here and say that we taught her it. We didn’t. She has an innate ability to pursue the ball, and she has an unbelievable knack for just making a read. We need her to do that at an elite level in order for us to win games, and we’re going to need her to do that tomorrow if we’re going to win this game.”
Bench play: The Flyers expected to need their bench more than ever against Marquette because of how fast the Golden Eagles play. The key reserve all season was Jordan Wilmoth, a 6-foot-3 sophomore forward from Immaculate Heart Academy in Chestnut Ridge, N.Y. She had six points in 12 minutes against Marquette.
“One thing coach always preaches is energy,” Wilmoth said, “so being the first person off the bench, I try to bring that, coming in for Alex (Harris) or J (Layfield) and just spreading some light to the team running up and down the court.”
Final tally: Senior Jenna Burdette scored 19 points in her final game. She finished her career with 1,344 points. She passed Michele Kruty (1,337, 1984-88) and Sandy Johnson (1,340, 1973-77) on Friday to finish in 12th place in the Dayton record book.
History lesson: Dayton fell to 5-8 in eight NCAA tournament appearances. This is the fourth time it has lost in the first round.
Other game: No. 1 seed Louisville (33-2) routed No. 16 seed Boise State 74-42 in the first game Friday, advancing to a second-round game Sunday at the KFC Yum! Center.
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