ST. LOUIS – Kiley Bess and Kyrah Daniels of Missouri State women's basketball were named to the Missouri Valley Conference scholar-athlete second team, the league announced today (March 11). 
 
Bess earns a spot on one of the scholar-athlete teams for the second time in her career after being named to the first team a season ago when she was a member of Indiana State. The senior from Poplar Bluff, Mo., owns a 4.00 graduate GPA as she pursues a Master's in Sports Management. 
 
In her first season at Missouri State, Bess averaged 5.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in conference action. She has started every game for the Lady Bears this season and helped lead Missouri State to a share of its first regular-season conference championship since 2021. 
 
Daniels collects MVC scholar-athlete recognition for the first time in her career. The sophomore owns a 4.00 GPA and is majoring in Exercise & Movement Science. 
 
The Highlands Ranch, Colo., native averaged 12.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in conference play this season. She also knocked down a team-high 36 three-pointers and blocked 17 shots against MVC foes, while starting every game for the Lady Bears this year and helping lead the team to a share of the regular-season crown. 
 
Missouri State will head to the MVC Tournament later this week. As the No. 2 seed, the Lady Bears will open their tournament stay on Friday, March 14 at 6:00 p.m. against the winner of No. 7 UIC or No. 10 Evansville.