ANGOLA, Ind. -- Taylor Cole was named the recipient of Trine University's top senior female student-athlete award.
Cole was voted the recipient of the Cheryl L. Coons Award, given to the senior female student-athlete who best embodies the qualities of leadership, character, citizenship, scholarship and the spirit of true competition. Cole was honored at Trine University's 2017 Honors Day program.
A team captain during the 2016-17 season, Cole was instrumental in helping lead the Thunder women's basketball team to a record-breaking 25-win season. The team captured its first MIAA regular season title and MIAA Tournament title to make the program's first NCAA Division III Tournament appearance. Trine won its first tournament game in program history. Along the way, the team earned its first ever national ranking as a member of Division III.
This season, Cole averaged 3.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.4 steals per game. She started every game at guard. Cole had big performances in several key victories, dishing out six assists in a MIAA title-clinching victory at Hope and adding five assists in the NCAA Tournament victory over Illinois Wesleyan.
Cole concluded her career ranked sixth in school history with 171 career steals. With Cole in the starting lineup, Trine notched a 43-12 record (.782 winning percentage).
Cole accomplished all this while graduating in three years with a double major in criminal justice and psychology. She earned a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice. Cole graduated Summa Cum Laude as a member of Chi Alpha Sigma, a national honors society of student-athletes. She earned Trine University's Jack J. Northrop Award for outstanding student in arts and sciences.
Cole also completed work with the Bowen Center, where she worked with at-risk youth in the community. The Bowen Center is a non-profit mental health care services provider with multiple locations throughout northeast Indiana.