MOLINE, Ill. – Lacy Stokes and Kennedy Taylor of Missouri State women's basketball took home multiple all-conference honors at tonight's Missouri Valley Conference Postseason Awards Banquet in Moline, Ill., highlighted by Stokes earning Newcomer of the Year and Taylor being named Sixth Player of the Year. 
 
Both were named All-MVC performers with Stokes being named to the second team and Taylor earning third-team honors. Stokes also earned spots on the All-Defensive and All-Newcomer teams. 
 
In her first season in a Lady Bears uniform, Stokes made an immediate impact at the point guard position. The junior transfer averaged 11.8 points, 4.95 assists, 2.65 steals and 2.9 rebounds per game in 20 MVC games.  She also shot .446 from the field and .756 from three throw line, while leading the team with 31.7 minutes per game.
 
A native of Mount Vernon, Mo., Stokes is the first Lady Bear to take home Newcomer of the Year since Tia Mays in 2011. During the season, she racked up nine MVC Newcomer of the Week awards, tying the league record for a single season. 
 
She recorded 11 games with at least five assists, 12 games with three or more steals and 12 games with double figure points against MVC competition. Stokes ranked 2^nd in the MVC in assists and steals per game in conference action.
 
Taylor, who earns her second consecutive all-conference third team honor, averaged 11.0 points and a team-leading 7.2 rebounds per game in league play. She also shot .521 from the field and .719 at the free throw line in 19.0 minutes per game, providing a huge spark off the bench for Missouri State. 
 
The junior forward owned 14 double-figure scoring performances and six double-figure rebound outings in 20 league games. A native of Shawnee Mission, Kan., Taylor finished the season ranked 3^rd in field goal percentage and 10^th in rebounds per game in the MVC in league action.
 
She becomes the first Lady Bear to win the Sixth Player of the Year award since its inception in 2015. 
 
Missouri State opens up play in the MVC Hoops in the Heartland Tournament on Friday, March 15 at 8:30 p.m. The Lady Bears will face the winner of No.6 Murray State/No. 11 Bradley in the quarterfinals.