Missouri State

At Missouri State: Payton will add depth to the backfield for the Bears this season.

Background: Payton started all four seasons for head coach Clint Nurnberg at Parkview High and was a four-year letterwinner. She was an all-district first team and all-conference second team selection as both a senior and a junior. During her senior season, she helped the Vikings to a district title and was named to the 2011 All-Star team. She led her team to a 9-0 record and an Ozark Conference Championship her junior year. She was named to the 2010 Springfield News-Leader All-Ozarks Girls team as a team captain. Payton was named the Defensive Player of the Year her sophomore season and earned all-district second team and all-conference honorable mention accolades. Her freshman season, she was named to the all-conference second team and an all-district honorable mention honoree. She also played volleyball at Parkview.

Personal: Payton is the daughter of Chris Payton and Tracy Fay and was born September 30, 1992. She plans to major in psychology at Missouri State.