Basketball is a game of angles. Just ask Christan Shelton.
Shelton banked in the game-winning shot with 27 seconds left in the Saint Louis University women’s basketball team’s 56-53 win over the Dayton Flyers last Saturday night.
Shelton, a sophomore, came off a high screen and hit an 18 foot jumper with the confidence of a senior. The pressure on that shot would be hard enough to take, but Shelton was also injured.
She severely sprained her ankle in the Loyola game and sat out the final six minutes of SLU’s 49-39 victory. Shelton didn’t practice on the Thursday or Friday before the showdown with Dayton. But Shelton wanted to take the last shot, regardless of the situation she faced.
“My dad always said that when it comes down to the last shot, you should want to take it,” said Shelton. “When the coaches ask you, you should want to take the last shot.”
Coach Jill Pizzotti praised Shelton:
“She’s taken on responsible and wants to make big plays,” she said. “She’s looked to for her leadership. The team looks to her and respects her. She’s definitely considered a veteran. Because of this, more is expected of her.”
Shelton embraces the responsibility that has been placed upon her, but she leads her way.
“I lead by example,” Shelton said. “It’s a lot easier to do things that way. I set a good example, and hopefully, others will follow. This year, everyone’s stepped up.”
Shelton had to find her niche when she arrived at SLU.
“When I got here, I was nervous. I didn’t know how I would fit in,” Shelton said. “But I made myself at home.”
But Shelton’s impact on the team was put on hold for one season. She was forced to sit out her first season with stress fractures in both legs.
“She had to deal with the stress fractures her freshman year. That’s tough as a freshman,” Pizzotti said. “She had to just sit and watch.”
But she came back and instantly played a crucial role in the Billikens’ successes.
Shelton moved into the starting lineup last year and found great success. She averaged 10.4 points a game and pulled in five rebounds, while leading the team with 27 blocked shots. She was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team and was selected as SLU’s Defensive Player of the Year.”She worked hard in the offseason and got stronger,” Pizzotti said.
Shelton has built on her success from last season. She is the Billikens’ leading scorer with 14 points a game in 31 minutes a game.
She has shot 79 percent from the free throw line and has also hauled in 5.2 rebounds per game.
“She’s really developed a feel for the game,” Pizzotti said. “She’s extended her range and feels very comfortable from 18 to 19 feet out. She’s good at putting the ball on the floor.”
Shelton’s heroics weren’t isolated to the Dayton contest. Shelton has had a knack for making big shots when the Billikens have needed them this year. But Shelton feels that her much needed offensive leadership is just part of the game.
“I just go out and play hard,” Shelton said. “They [the shots] just seem to kick in at the right time. I go out and play my best and hopefully we’ll win.”
But Shelton’s leadership isn’t isolated to the offensive end. She usually defends the best shooter on the opposing team.
“She enjoys the challenge of that,” Pizzotti said.
“I don’t want my man to score on me,” Shelton said. “I also have to be ready to help my teammates. Coach says we need to hold teams under 50. If we take care of things on defense, our offense will take care of itself.”
Thanks in part to Shelton’s defense, the Billikens have held four opponents under 55 points this year.
Shelton’s work ethic and attitude should lead to her continued success this year.
“She works hard,” Pizzotti said. “She earns everything she makes happen. It takes courage and believing in yourself.”
