*This story is part of our 2010-11 Mizzou in Review series.*
It may be hard to believe that a single athlete is capable of making a 13-18 season look and feel like a success.
Those who followed Missouri women’s basketball star RaeShara Brown during her Tiger career, however, learned to embrace themselves for surprise.
In leading a young Tigers squad in coach Robin Pingeton’s first season, Brown amounted to be everything Missouri could ever want, need or ask for during her senior season. The point guard and team captain willed the Tigers to exceed pre-season expectations by leading the team in points (16.8 per game), minutes (37.3), assists (4.5) and steals (2.6).
Brown’s accolades were recognized on a conference-wide scale as well. She led the Big 12 Conference in steals and finished in the top 20 in points, assists and rebounds this past season. Such accomplishments resulted in an All-Big 12 Second Team selection, making her the only member of the team to receive post-season honors. She was also named to the Academic All-Big 12 Second Team.
A loss in the Big 12 Tournament closed the book on both the Tigers’ season and a stellar college career for Missouri’s star. Brown saw significant action in all four seasons at Missouri, making 81 career starts. Her All-Conference accolades this season only added to the list of conference accolades that includes an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention finish her junior year as well as Academic All-Big 12 First Team nominations her sophomore and junior seasons.
Brown etched her name into the Missouri record books this past winter by achieving the program’s all-time mark in career steals with 273.
What Brown’s career didn’t see was a wealth of team success. Not once in her four years on the court did the Tigers post a winning record or participate in post-season play. Nonetheless, Brown could not be more proud of her time spent as a Tiger.
“The wins and losses, when you get older, you’ll forget about them,” Brown said. “You won’t remember this game or this game but what you will remember is the relationship you built with the people on your team, and I can take that with me forever.”
Rhea Taylor:
The final chapter of Rhea Taylor’s storied career at Missouri has been just like the first three: equally record-breaking and rewarding.
Let’s start with the records first. Taylor entered the season only 12 stolen bases shy of the Big 12 record, and broke it in just 14 games. She can now add her 167 stolen bases to her collection of records. Taylor is Missouri’s and the Big 12’s career batting-average leader and is in the top-four all-time in the Big 12 in hits and runs scored.
Those numbers haven’t gone unnoticed. In early April, Taylor was extended an invitation to the USA national softball team tryouts in California during the offseason. She was one of only a handful of players across the country with the honor. Interestingly, Taylor turned down an opportunity to be the first-overall selection in the National Pro Fastpitch league so she could tryout with the national squad.
“I have very big goals,” Taylor said. “I feel like if I’m not working towards something, then what’s the point of even doing it? Ever since I really came to college, I came here for a purpose. That sole purpose was to be on the USA team or if not, get a tryout and then help my team win a national championship. I feel very strongly about that.”
On the field, it’s been a different year than previous for Taylor. Her batting average and hit totals are down, yet still are among the best three in Missouri’s lineup. But this year, it’s not just about numbers and awards for Taylor. She’s earned those before. This year, she’s embracing her role as just a cog in the rumbling machine that is the Missouri offense. She doesn’t have to carry the team with all the talent around her. Though head coach Ehren Earleywine said he believed she had that ability when he recruited her.
“I thought there was a possibility,” Earleywine said. “I projected her to be a kid who had a really high ceiling in terms of talent level. But I just didn’t know the other part of it. I didn’t know if she’d work hard enough.”
As her invitation to the national team shows, Rhea Taylor put in the effort and reached her potential. This year, it’s about cementing her legacy as the best player in Missouri softball history, and she’s done that by contributing to a team with national championship hopes. Time will tell if she reaches that goal, but there’s no doubting she’s been a huge factor on the way there.
