No. 24 – Michelle Byrd
THIS YEAR: Junior guard Michelle Byrd is developing into one of the best all-around players in the GSAC ... Rated among the best defenders in the nation and will consistently draw the opponent's top scorer ... Has a vastly improved offensive game that now includes a perimeter shot ... Plays well off the dribble ... Has great work ethic and creates many of her scoring opportunities through sheer hustle ... Is also very good in the open court and one of the better rebounding guards in the GSAC ... Will push for conference and national honors.
2009 (sophomore): Put together a breakthrough 2009 sophomore campaign, primarily because of her defense though she did prove to be a valuable offensive weapon ... Started all 34 games, averaging 8.1 points and 6.5 rebounds ... Led the GSAC in steals (105 in 34 games, 3.1 average) ... Ranked among the GSAC's Top 15 in rebounds (10th), assists (10th/3.3) and field goal percentage (14th/.471) ... Scored a career-high 16 points in a victory over GSAC rival Concordia ... Snagged a career-high 15 rebounds in an NAIA Tourney opening round win over Southern Nazarene University ... Collected a trio of double-doubles on the season, including a rare one with 10 points and 10 steals in win over Cal State Dominguez Hills ... Best overall performance may have come in a win at Holy Names when she tallied 10 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists ... Also had 8 points, 8 rebounds and 7 steals in a win over Hope International.
2008 (freshman): Started all 32 games as a true freshman ... Averaged 6.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists ... Also snagged 56 steals, the second-highest on the team ... Recorded double-digit points 10 times ... Collected season-highs of 14 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double in a win over Westmont ... In GSAC play, shot 52 percent (63-for-121) from the field and averaged 7.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals ... Played 30 or more minutes in the final 13 games ... Picked up a season-high 6 of the team's 11 steals in a win over California Baptist. ... Pulled down 10 rebounds 3 different times, grabbing at least 5 boards from the offensive glass in each of those contests.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played 3 varsity seasons at Rancho Verde High in Moreno Valley, Calif. ... As a 2007 senior named the Inland Valley League MVP after leading the Mustangs to a share of the league title, averaging 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals per game ... Was a 2-time All-CIF second team pick, and twice earned all-league first team recognition ... Selected to the Desert Valley All-Star North team ... As a 2005 sophomore, named to All-Southwestern League second team.
PERSONAL: Born March 27, 1989, in Torrance, Calif. ... Parents are Eric Reynolds and Freda Fantroy ... Has a younger brother (Johnny) and an older sister (Michole) ... Majoring in psychology.
BYRD at AZUSA PACIFIC
Year G-GS FG-FGA PCT 3FG-3FGA PCT FT-FTA PCT REB AVG AST AVG PTS AVG
2008 32-32 90-185 .486 4-24 .167 27-43 .628 167 5.2 100 3.1 211 6.6
2009 34-34 107-227 .471 16-40 .400 47-74 .635 222 6.5 111 3.3 277 8.1
66-66 197-412 .478 20-64 .313 77-117 .658 389 5.9 211 3.2 488 7.4
