April 13, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Senior guard LaToya Bond (Urbana, Ill. / Urbana HS) was named the "Most Valuable Tiger" at the women's basketball team's annual awards banquet, held last Saturday at the Holiday Inn Select.
Bond, who was a second-round WNBA draft pick of the Charlotte Sting earlier last week, led the Tigers in scoring -- and was seventh in the Big 12 -- in scoring at 17.2 points per game. She was the only guard among the Big 12's top shooters to shoot better than 50 percent from the field, and made 83 percent of her free throws to lead the team and finish third in the league as well.
She earned two statistical awards from the Sixth Stripe Club during the banquet, the "String Music" Free-Throw Award for leading the team from the line, as well as the "Special Delivery" Assist Award for handing out a team-high 99 assists on the year.
Fellow senior and WNBA draftee Christelle N'Garsanet (Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire / Illinois Central College) won the other statistical award, the "Glass Attacker" Rebounding Award, for pulling down a team-best 260 boards. N'Garsanet was a third-round pick of the New York Liberty last week.
Tiger radio play-by-play man David Lile served as Master of Ceremonies at the banquet, which featured several highlight videos of the team's accomplishments, including a Jan. 4 win over defending NCAA National Champion Baylor and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Pre-Season "Daily Point Leader": Blair Hardiek Regular-Season "Daily Point Leader" (Guard): LaToya Bond Regular-Season "Daily Point Leader" (Post): Carlynn Savant "Glass Attacker" Rebounding Award: Christelle N'Garsanet "Special Delivery Assist" Award: LaToya Bond "String Music" Free-Throw Award: LaToya Bond "Intimidator Defense" Award: EeTisha Riddle "Fighting Tiger Hustle" Award: Blair Hardiek "Heart and Soul Leadership" Award: Carlynn Savant "Most Valuable Tiger": LaToya Bond