Missouri Southern State University Athletics

One of the finest two-sport student-athletes in Missouri Southern history, Melissa Grider excelled on both the softball diamond and the basketball court, earning All-America recognition in both sports and rewriting the Lions' record books during her career from 1993-96.

On the softball field, Grider earned Third Team All-America honors in 1995 and established herself as one of the most prolific hitters in MSSU program history and one of the most feared hitters in the conference. She was a three-time All-MIAA selection and an All-Region pick in 1996.

She still owns Missouri Southern career records for batting average (.439), on-base percentage (.469), slugging percentage (.644), and on-base plus slugging (1.113). Her remarkable 1996 campaign remains one of the greatest offensive seasons in school history, as she set single-season records with a .547 batting average, .578 on-base percentage, and a 1.347 OPS, while her .768 slugging percentage ranks second all-time. She also ranks sixth in program history with a .422 batting average during the 1995 season.

A consistent offensive force throughout her softball career, Grider led the Lions in batting average in 1994 (.367) and 1996 (.547), slugging percentage in 1994 (.587) and 1996 (.768), and on-base percentage in all three seasons, posting marks of .384 in 1994, .460 in 1995, and a school-record .578 in 1996. She also led the team in home runs as a freshman in 1994. Her 58 career doubles ranks second all-time in MSSU program history. 

Grider's success extended to the hardwood, where she became one of the most decorated players in Missouri Southern women's basketball history. As a senior in 1995-96, she earned All-America honors from Kodak, Division II Bulletin, and the Division II Sports Information Directors Association while also being named NCAA Division II All-Region, MIAA Player of the Year, College Sports Player of the Year, and First Team All-MIAA.

A 1,000-point scorer, Grider finished her basketball career with 1,353 points, ranking sixth in program history, while averaging 17.35 points per game—still the third-highest career scoring average in school history. She also ranks third all-time in free throws made (412) and free throws attempted (561), fifth in three-point field goals made (171), and eighth in steals (150).

Her senior season remains one of the greatest individual campaigns ever by a Lion. Grider averaged a school-record 25.4 points per game while scoring 737 points, both of which rank among the best single-season totals in MIAA history. She also set Missouri Southern single-season records with 220 free throws made and 292 attempted while ranking among the program's leaders in field goals made, three-pointers, steals, and scoring. Her 40-point performance at Northwest Missouri State on Jan. 31, 1996, remains the fourth-highest single-game scoring output in program history, while her 37-point game against Lincoln later that season ranks ninth.