Who would have dreamt that a tall, uncoordinated, young teenage
girl with no desire to play basketball would become Saint Louis
University’s star player? Certainly not Angie Lewis.

Lewis was approached by a coach in seventh grade to play
basketball, because of her height. Lewis, who had never played
before, was persuaded by her older twin brothers to take up the
sport. They told Lewis that they were not going to let her height
go to waste.

Lewis literally gave it a shot. The results were not what she
wanted. As an awkward adolescent Lewis tripped over her feet and
had trouble with the game.

“I wasn’t good,” she said. “I hated it.”

While Lewis stopped growing, the game began to grow on her.
Lewis’ older brothers kept telling her, “You got to love the game;
you can’t just like it.” Eventually she did learned to love the
game.

Now, Lewis is beginning her last season of college basketball.
She is a starting forward for the Billikens and one of three team
captains.

As a freshman, Lewis saw action in all 28 season games. She had
11 assists, 18 steals and averaged five points per game. Lewis was
also named to Conference USA’s Commissioner’s Academic Honor
Roll.

Lewis’ success did not stop there. During her sophomore season,
Lewis posted the ninth-highest single-season scoring output at SLU
with 391 points. She started all 29 games, had 19 assists and 35
steals.

Lewis was named team MVP and also selected as third-team
All-Conference USA. She was also named Conference USA Player of the
Week.

After an impressive previous season, Lewis set out to put up
notable numbers again her junior year. She did just that and
more.

She tied for the team lead in rebounding and shot the team best
from the field. Lewis was selected to the San Juan Shootout
All-Star Team. She was also named as one of the top two players at
the Pete Newell/Ann Meyers Tall Woman Camp.

Lewis, a communication major from St. Louis, is ready to get the
ball rolling her senior year.

While there are a lot of differences from last season’s team,
Lewis feels that the team has meshed in ways that it hasn’t in the
past. Lewis also said that this is the best coaching staff.

Although the team is mainly made up of young players, the Bills
are full of talent. Lewis said that chemistry comes with time.

“We have to get better every time we go out on the court and
everything will fall into place,” she stated.

As for Lewis herself, she feels that she has to teach the
younger players poise and confidence.

She said that it is important to remain poised, and not get
rattled while out on the court.

“I am going to have to take a larger leadership role. I have to
be a great example on and off the court,” she said.

Lewis seems to be tackling that nicely.

“Angie is a tremendous student. She works hard, puts the team
first and is a genuine, nice person. She is fun to coach–a super
kid,” coach Jill Pizzotti said.

She said that she is going to use her height to her
advantage.

“I can take out others because I am smaller,” she said Lewis
describes her game as a combination of finesse and power. “I can’t
let myself be restricted.”

Lewis’ goal for this season, besides playing her best, is to
make it to the NCAA tournament.

“It’s my last chance to go to the tournament. I know we can do
it if we get better everyday,” Lewis said.

There are no excuses for not playing hard, according to Lewis.
She also said that everyone is going to make mistakes, that it is
important to learn from them and then move past them.

When Lewis arrived at SLU she was immersed into the Billiken
family.

“I have memories and friendships that will last a lifetime,”
Lewis said.