Missouri State University

NiJay Gaines

15

Class: Junior Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa High School: East High

Height: 5-11 Position: Guard/Forward

2011-12: After playing in just three of Missouri State's first 12 games, Gaines took the floor in 13 of the season's final 21 contests, averaging 3.7 minutes while scoring 12 points and grabbing eight rebounds...Scored her first career basket at Evansville (Jan. 21), putting up three shots in a career-high eight minutes...Matched that stat line at home versus Southern Illinois (Feb. 19), and also scored against Illinois State (Jan. 29), Wichita State (Feb. 10), Bradley (March 3) and Memphis (March 17)...Blocked one shot on the year, Nov. 18 at Kansas State...Shot 6-for-18 overall in 59 total minutes.

Background: Gaines helped her Des Moines East squad to a perfect 26-0 season capped off by a 4A Iowa state title as a senior in 2010-11...Earned second-team all-state honors while contributing 11 points and six rebounds on a team that featured four Division I signees and compiled a 71-4 record over her final three prep seasons...Averaged 10 points and six rebounds for the Scarlets en route to earning first-team all-conference and all-region honors as part of a team that finished second at the Iowa state tournament...Competed in AAU ball for the All-Iowa Attack.

Personal: NiJay Caprice Gaines is the daughter of Lena Gaines...Born in Des Moines, Iowa...Has three sisters, Magon, Jessica and Keesha...Undecided on an academic major...Turned 19 in June.