LaToya Thomas is exhausted. Her class work is completed. Another practice is history. The day is done.

	LaToya Thomas has scored double-digits in all 121 games.

So the Mississippi State senior lies back, shuts off the light -- and turns on the television.

Like a mother who has finally gotten her children to bed, Thomas finally makes a little time for herself after comforting homesick rookies, deflecting the media spotlight onto her teammates and teaching them the skills that have helped make her a three-time Kodak All-American.

Thomas, a 6-foot-2 forward, has accomplished numerous achievements throughout her career. In 1999-2000, she became the first freshman to lead the SEC in scoring. As a sophomore, she was a Naismith finalist and became the second-fastest women's player in SEC history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. Last season, Thomas was named to the Associated Press All-American first team, and for the third straight year, topped the SEC scoring charts.

But while she's best known for taking care of business on the court, those who know her best say the modest Thomas just takes care of everybody.

"Toya looks out for everyone," says teammate Tan White, a sophomore wing. "She often invites the team over to her house and cooks dinner for us."

So despite the late hour, Thomas often settles in for some late-night TV.

"Everybody finds it scary, but I love watching 'Unsolved Mysteries,' " says Thomas, a member of ESPN.com's five-member preseason All-America team. "I love trying to figure out who did it, and watch as they uncover the evidence and figure it out piece by piece."

Thomas' achievements are no mystery. She holds 21 school records, boasts single-game career bests of 48 points and 22 rebounds and enters her senior season as Mississippi State's all-time scoring leader, men or women, with 2,187 career points. If in April she is named to the Kodak All-America team as expected, Thomas would become just the sixth player to become a four-time honoree, joining basketball legends Tamika Catchings and Chamique Holdsclaw of Tennessee, Ann Meyers of UCLA, Lynette Woodard of Kansas and Cheryl Miller of USC.

"Toya's stats speak for themselves," Lady Bulldogs coach Sharon Fanning said. "She is one of the top basketball players in the country and is looking to take her game to the next level."

Thomas doesn't seem to care about the individual accolades.

"If I were a four-time (Kodak honoree), it'd be a great honor, great for the university and what I represent in terms of the team, my coaches and our fans," said Thomas, who ranked second in the nation last season with a 24.6 scoring average. "But this is it, my last go 'round, and my big goal is for us to win the SEC title and compete for a national championship."

Thomas acknowledges those are lofty goals. SEC counterparts Tennessee, LSU, Georgia and Vanderbilt are each ranked in the top 10 of the preseason ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, while Mississippi State just missed out on being included in the top 25. Also, the Lady Bulldogs, an at-large, No. 12 seed last year, have never advanced past the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In 2000-01, Mississippi State competed in the WNIT after failing to earn an invitation to the Big Dance.

Still, Thomas isn't worried.

"We've had a couple downfalls, but we've picked it up," she said. "We only have to hold ourselves up to our standards, work hard and focus on playing as a team."

White said Thomas is a team-first type person.

"Toya is a good player and knows her role on the team, but she also tries to include her teammates, as well," said White, who helped Mississippi State notch seven wins over top-25 teams in 2001-02. "She motivates and gives advice to the newcomers about the level of play in the SEC, and warns them about the difficulty of play and demonstrates to them a good work ethic during practice."

While there's plenty more to the team than Thomas, Fanning said that the senior's maturity has helped set the tone for the rest of the Lady Bulldogs.

"You always expect a player to be at her best her senior year, and Toya has become a teacher and leader on and off the floor," said Fanning, Mississippi State's coach since 1995. "And as she has matured, she's accepted more responsibility and become more accountable."

And of course, Thomas has gotten better and better each year.

"She can play inside and outside, and her strength and versatility make her a matchup nightmare for anybody," ESPN analyst Nancy Lieberman said. "She's going to be a great WNBA player some day."

No mystery there.

Melanie Jackson coordinates ESPN.com's women's college basketball coverage.