Melissa Jones, a decorated college basketball player at Baylor, died April 3 at her home in Colorado. She was 36.
“The Baylor Family mourns the loss of 2011 alum Melissa Jones,” the university said in a statement posted to its Instagram account. “Her impact on our women’s basketball program will not be forgotten,” the university said in a statement. “Please keep the Jones family and the Baylor women’s basketball program in your prayers during this time.”
Advertisement
Jones overcame a serious eye injury in 2011 to help the Lady Bears reach the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. After the season, the program retired her number-5 jersey, and she was named the first recipient of the team’s annual Melissa Jones Hustle and Courage award.
MORE: UConn’s Geno Auriemma reveals details of private Dawn Staley apology
“Melissa Jones left her mark on Baylor University, not just women’s basketball. She was loved by the entire Waco community. Everything she did for us was full speed,” Mulkey told KWTX. “She played the game the way every player should — always had energy, played hard, and was a great leader. Her teammates respected her because she represented everything — her effort, her caring, her knowledge and her toughness were unmatched.
“She was the ‘glue’ that kept the team together good times and bad.”
Advertisement
Jones was chosen the 2011 Big 12 Female Sportsperson of the Year, and finished her college career among the program leaders in several categories: No. 6 in free throw percentage (.789, 262-of-332), No. 8 in both games played (125) and steals (199).
Among Baylor seniors, her 135 season assists ranks No. 4 and is the best mark since the 2003-04 season and her 248 rebounds ranks No. 9.
MORE: First American to summit Mt. Everest dies at 97
Jones was not among the 36 players chosen in the 2011 WNBA Draft. After graduating, she used her fifth year of NCAA eligibility at Baylor to compete for the Lady Bears’ volleyball team.
Advertisement
At Legacy High School in Colorado, Jones was an All-State middle blocker. But her first sport was basketball; Jones was the 2007 Gatorade Colorado Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year.
No cause of death has been reported.
