Rhea Taylor Class: Junior Hometown: Buford, Ga. High School: Peachtree Ridge Position: OF

2009: Notching a squad best .404 batting average in 51 starts and 52 appearances, Rhea Taylor's mark stood third best in the Big 12 Conference and 47th in the nation. In Big 12 games alone, Taylor hit .354. Missouri's starting centerfielder, Taylor led the conference in stolen bases (36), good enough for 10th best in the country, and was second in hits (72), triples (three) and runs scored (54). Additionally, her 1.04 runs per game stood 15th best in the nation. Over the course of the year, Taylor managed a squad best 21 multi-hit games and recorded the longest Tiger hitting streak, 15 games, from April 19-May 24. During that span, Taylor recorded a .434 batting average that was aided by 23 hits, including two doubles, two triples and one home run. Taylor opened her sophomore season as Big 12 Player of the Week after going 6-for-11 at the plate and contributing seven of the Tigers 20 runs at the Georgia State First Pitch Classic in Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 14-15. Taylor helped Missouri to a league crown, May 9-10 in Oklahoma City, Okla., going 5-for-9 with a .556 average and .778 slugging percentage at the Big 12 Conference Championships. In NCAA postseason play, Taylor helped Missouri to its second straight NCAA Super Regional appearance, hitting the game winning home run against DePaul at the NCAA Regionals held in Columbia, Mo., May 17. Her sixth inning, two out blast was Missouri's lone run of the game and sent Missouri to Los Angeles for the best-of-three series against No. 1 UCLA. Taylor averaged .357 in NCAA postseason play and scored a squad high six runs for Missouri. In two years on the Tiger softball squad, Taylor moved to No. 2 in the Missouri career stolen base record book, managing 93 successful swipes. Honors: All-Midwest Region First Team, All-Big 12 Tournament Team, All-Big 12 First Team, Big 12 Player of the Week.

2008:The first Missouri softball player in program history to earn Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors, Taylor also earned the distinction of becoming the first Tiger in five years to receive All-America accolades. In her inaugural season with the Tigers, Taylor recorded a .402 batting average that set her atop the Missouri career batting average record book as well as tops among her Big 12 opponents. Her .481 average in Big 12 games also led the league. Taylor hit leadoff in all 64 games and reached base 58 times leading off the game. By the close of her freshman season, Taylor had stolen 57 bases, the second most in the country, setting a new Big 12 record. As a newcomer, Taylor received the adidas Golden Shoe Award presented annually to the nation's top base runner. Taylor led the league not only in stolen bases, but also in hits (88) and runs scored (64). The Tiger outfielder made her collegiate debut Feb. 8 against 2007 Women's College World Series contender Virginia Tech, then ranked 15th in the nation. Facing arguably one of the toughest pitchers in the nation, Taylor went 2-for-3 and stole two bases. In NCAA postseason play, Taylor was 7-for-19, scoring four of Missouri's 15 runs. Taylor hit her first career home run May 4 at Nebraska driving home three Missouri runs. For her work, Taylor was named to the All-Big 12 first team as well as NCAA Midwest Alll-Region team. Taylor received second team All-America honors by the close of the season. Honors: Second Team All-American, All-Midwest Region First Team, All-Big 12 First Team, Big 12 Freshman of the Year, adidas Golden Shoe Award Winner.

Peachtree Ridge: Taylor played four years with the Lions softball team and was coached by Duane Wilson. An outfielder with a powerful swing, Taylor batted leadoff her senior season averaging .352 at the plate. As a senior (2006), Taylor helped her team to the Georgia state softball tournament. Throughout her high school career, Taylor earned four letters and was named Best Offensive Player her junior year (2005) and Best Defensive Player in her sophomore campaign (2004). A three-time all-county honoree (2005, 2006), Taylor received honorable mention honors as a freshman in 2003. Taylor played summer softball in 2006 with the Brownsmill Lady Jackets. As a member of the 18 and under team, Taylor helped her team to a 13th place finish out of 144 teams.

Personal: Rhea Taylor is the daughter of Bobby and Coyita Taylor and has three sisters, Jocelyn, Gabrielle and Kamari and one brother, Fabian.