March 14, 2006

ATLANTA - University of Missouri senior guard LaToya Bond (Urbana, Ill. / Urbana HS) has been named as one of 48 finalists for the Kodak/WBCA Division I All-America Team, officials from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and Eastman Kodak announced today.

With the honor, Bond is guaranteed at least All-America Honorable Mention status from the organization, which will select the 10 Kodak All-Americans to be announced during a press conference as part of the NCAA Women's Final Four festivities in Boston. Bond is Mizzou's first WBCA All-Region selection since Evan Unrau in 2004, and eighth in program history.

The WBCA honorees were announced in each of eight regions; Bond is one of six players recognized in Region 5. The others, all fellow members of the Big 12, are Baylor senior forward Sophia Young; Oklahoma freshman center Courtney Paris; Texas junior forward Tiffany Jackson; and Texas Tech seniors Erin Grant and LaToya Davis.

Bond led the Tigers in scoring at 17.3 points per game this season. She scored 30 or more points three times, including a Mizzou Arena-record 34 points vs. Western Michigan on Dec. 29. A consensus All-Big 12 First Team selection, she was also named to the All-Big 12 Defensive Team by the league's coaches and the Kansas City Star. Bond also earned all-tournament honors at each of the Tigers' three in-season tournaments, including Most Valuable Player recognition at the Pittsburgh Thanksgiving Tournament and the State Farm Tiger Classic.

The Tigers open play in the first round of the 2006 NCAA National Women's Basketball Championship this Sunday, March 19, in University Park, Pa., against Virginia Tech. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. in a game that will be televised on ESPN2.