Missouri State

At Missouri State: Tara Bailes will be looked upon to provide leadership both on and off the field during her senior season.

2010: Bailes became a full-time starter in her junior campaign, starting all 19 matches. She tied a career high by scoring two goals in 2010 and netted her first career game-winner. She scored her first goal of the season at Tulsa (9/5). The very next game, her goal in the 67th minute was the eventual game-winner in the 3-2 victory over Oklahoma (9/10) at Plaster Field. Her only assist of the season was on Grace Cross[apos] game-winning goal with just six seconds left in regulation in a 1-0 win over Indiana State (10/1). She was tied for fourth on the team in shots taken (22) and shots on goal (12). Off the field, Bailes was named to the NSCAA Scholar All-Central Region honorable mention team.

2009: Bailes saw playing time in all 18 matches for Missouri State. She was in the starting lineup at Arkansas (8/30) and against UMKC (9/16). She registered her only goal of the season in the 2-0 win over Austin Peay (8/28). Bailes also tallied two assists on the season, one against UALR (9/4) and the other against Drake (10/18).

2008: Bailes received her first letter after playing in all 19 matches. She got the starting nod twice. She scored two goals on the season, one each in wins over Nicholls State (9/19) and Indiana State (10/31). Her lone assist also came in the win over Nicholls State. She had 14 shots, seven of which were on goal.

Background: Bailes joined the Bears from Springfield Catholic High School. Bailes was a four-time all-state, all-region, all-district and All-Ozarks Conference selection. A team captain her junior and senior years, she is her high school[apos]s career leader in points and is the record-holder for most points in a season (99). Bailes led Springfield Catholic to four state quarterfinal appearances and was also selected to the Southwest Missouri All-Star team.

Personal: Bailes is the daughter of Scott and Jo Anne Bailes and was born June 13, 1989. Bailes is a general business major. Her father played baseball for the Bears in 1981 and spent nine years in the majors with the Indians, Rangers and Angels.