Four Mizzou Women’s Basketball players recognized by SEC for 2013 teams

By Elaine Stockdale

Published on KBIA Sports Extra. 

The Missouri women’s basketball team has made a mark at the end of its season – two straight wins in thelast two regular season games and four players recognized by the Southeastern Conference for their achievements this season.

Today, the SEC announced sophomore Morgan Eye as one of the 2013 Sixth Woman of the Year, junior Bri Kulas as a member of the All-SEC Second Team, and freshman Lianna Doty named to the All-Freshman Team.

Yesterday, senior Liz Smith was named to the 2013 SEC Women’s Basketball Community Service Team.

Individually, it is the first time that each player has been inducted into a conference all-team in their career. They are also  the first SEC recognitions for Missouri since its move from the Big 12 Conference.

Sharp shooter Eye is the first Tiger to receive the Sixth Woman of the Year honor. She made history on Sunday against Alabama, making her 108^th career 3-pointer, tied for first as the SEC all-time single season 3-point list, which was made in 2010 by Mississippi State’s Alexis Rack. Eye averaged 13.5 points for the season and managed 95 3-pointers coming off the bench for the Tigers.  She was also the highest scorer in 11 of Missouri’s games this season with a season high of 33 points against Auburn in January.

Junior guard Kulas joins 14 previous Tigers who have been named to an All-Conference Second Team. She has been a regular starter for Missouri this season and made her fifth double-double of the season against Alabama on Sunday. Kulas finished with 23 points and a career high 14 rebounds at Alabama. In Missouri’s senior night game last Thursday against South Carolina, she had a season high of 26 points alongside 12 rebounds. Kulas lead Missouri in points this season averaging 14.1 points per game. She also led in rebounds averaging 6.6. per game.

5-foot-7-inch guard Doty is the second Tiger freshman to be named to an All-Freshman team. Sophomore Kyley Simmons was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman team last season. Doty lead the team with 144 assists this season and averaged 4.8 assists per game. She is sixth on the SEC leader board for assists and averaged 1.7 steals per game. Doty was also named the SEC Freshman of the Week in January.

Smith, starting center for the Tigers, was acknowledged as a member into the 2013 SEC Women’s Basketball Community Service Team. The 6-foot senior commits plenty of her time outside of college and basketball, assisting communities around Columbia. Smith visits and reads to children at Grant Elementary and also volunteers regularly at Coyote Hill, a local home for neglected and abused children. She also traveled to Joplin, Mo., to assist with relief efforts after the tornado in May 2011. As well as being a Missouri Tiger, Smith also participated for two years in the Women’s Basketball Special Olympics Clinics.

Missouri earned the No. 10 seed for the 2013 SEC Tournament, which will be held in Duluth, Ga. The tournament begins Wednesday and the Tigers face Vanderbilt on Thursday, tip off at 5 p.m.