Stephens basketball player Tia LaFavor

By ALEXANDRA BROWNING/Missourian

March 10, 2010 | 9:14 p.m. CST

Tia LaFavor, center, talks to teammates on the bench during a Stephens game against Williams Baptist in February. LaFavor is legally deaf, but talking to her is no different than talking to a person who has perfect hearing. She enunciates well and can understand everything someone is saying as long as she can see their lips.