Kenzie Williams

4

Class: RS Freshman Hometown: Mt. Vernon, Mo. High School: Mt. Vernon High

Height: 5-10 Position: Guard

Honors: MVC Academic Honor Roll (2012).

2011-12: Williams played in the season's first two games before suffering an ACL tear against ninth-ranked Louisville in MSU's home opener...Granted a medical hardship waiver by the NCAA to regain her freshman season of eligibility and has four years remaining beginning in 2012-13...Handed out two assists with one rebound and one steal in the season opener at Louisiana Tech (Nov. 11)...Added another assist against Louisville (Nov. 13) to finish the year with three assists, no turnovers, one steal, one rebound and 0-for-5 shooting.

Background: A 5-10 guard, Williams earned first-team all-state honors in each of her final two seasons at Mt. Vernon High and led her club to a Missouri Class 3 state championship in 2009-10 as a junior...Contributed 17 points, nearly six rebounds and three assists to the MVHS attack as a senior, following up on a strong junior campaign in which she paced the Mountaineers with averages of 17.6 points, 5.2 boards and 2.9 assists in helping her team go 30-3...Named first-team all-state by the Associated Press and the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association and was chosen by the Springfield News-Leader for its annual All-Ozarks team in each of her final two prep seasons...Competed in track and field and earned second-team all-state honors competing in volleyball as a senior for Mt. Vernon.

Personal: Makenzie Kaye Williams is the daughter of Doug and Linda Williams...Born in Springfield, Mo...Has two brothers, Shane and Trace...Her mother competed in basketball and track at Missouri Southern, while her aunt, Cindy Castillon, played three varsity seasons for the Lady Bears (1980-83), totaling 1,053 points to rank 19th on MSU's career scoring list...Elementary Education major...Will turn 20 in February.