Sparkle Taylor knew coming into the season she wasn't going to be eligible to repeat as Conference USA's sixth player of the year, a natural consequence of becoming a starter in her final season at UTEP.
What the team's only senior did was rise to every expectation this year and in the process earn second team All-Conference USA honors as announced by the league Sunday.
"It's an honor," Taylor said. "It's nice to be recognized."
Her play made that inevitable. Her 18 points per game ranked fourth in C-USA, as Taylor was the one player opposing teams needed to account for.