ST. LOUIS -- Tahnee Balerio of Missouri State University has been selected the Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week, Commissioner Doug Elgin announced today. Balerio was honored for her performance during the period of December 11-17.

The Valley’s Scholar-Athlete program, which is sponsored by Prairie Farms, Roberts and Hiland Dairies, honors conference student-athletes for their athletic performance for a one-week period and academic success in the classroom. The program began during the 1999-00 academic year.

"Prairie Farms and its family of dairies have been the only sponsors of this worthwhile endeavor by the Missouri Valley Conference," said Commissioner Elgin, who is in his 19th year with The Valley. "We are grateful for Prairie Farms’ continued recognition of student-athletes like Tahnee (Balerio) for their athletic performance and their academic success."

A guard for the Missouri State women’s basketball team, Balerio, a junior from Buhler, Kan., poured in a career-high 39 points to lead the Lady Bears to a 71-56 victory over Oregon on Saturday, December 16.

Balerio, who has a 3.86 cumulative grade-point average in private and commercial recreation, scored 22 of her 39 points in the second half and finished the game 10-of-15 from the floor, including 5-of-7 from beyond the three-point arc. She knocked down 14 free throws in a school record-tying 20 attempts and hauled in a career-best eight rebounds as well.

To qualify for Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week laurels, student-athletes must carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00, completed at least one academic year at a Valley institution and must be at least a sophomore in academic standing. In addition to the academic qualifications, student-athletes will be evaluated on their athletic performance for a one-week period.