ST. LOUIS – Junior guard Ashley Taia has been named to the Missouri Valley Conference honorable mention team, it was announced by the league on Wednesday.
 
Taia has put together a stellar junior campaign, leading the Sycamores with 12 points per game to go along with 4.7 rebounds and a team-high 56 steals. She shot nearly 30 percent from 3-point range and scored her 500^th point during conference play.
 
"Ashley has worked hard for us and has been a consistent presence on both ends of the floor this season," head coach Joey Wells said. "She took her game to another level this year and can't wait to see what she will do next season."
 
Taia has started in all 29 games of the 2016-17 season, reaching double-figure scoring in 19 of those games while ranking 10th in the league in scoring. She scored 20 or more points in three games including career-high 26 in the win at Southern Illinois on New Year's Day.  She has amassed 348 total points to push her two year total as a Sycamore to 581 points.
 
In addition, the Brisbane, Australia native also set new career marks with 11 rebounds at Wichita State and recorded five steals in a win against Bradley.
 
Taia and MVC Scholar Athlete honoree Rhagen Smith will receive their awards in a presentation on Thursday at the iWireless Center in Moline, Ill. between games one and two of "Hoops in the Heartland."
 
The No. 8 seed Sycamores begin play in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament on Thursday afternoon when it faces No. 9 seed Illinois State. Tipoff from the iWireless Center in Moline, Ill. is set for 5 p.m. ET and will air live on The Valley on ESPN3.
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Women's Basketball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.