Mia Johnson is a young, talented and optimistic player who looks for an ending to this season than better than the beginning.

Johnson, a freshman, has really stood out for the Bills this year. More often than not, she is the high scorer for the Billikens and averages about 17 points a game.

In only two games, Johnson was held under double digit points this season. Johnson's personal best was 31 points in an early game against Austin Peay.

This season has been tough for the Bills winning only three regular-season games: Johnson feels that each win has been one of her favorite moments playing at SLU.

"Every game we play is really important to me," she said. "We haven't won a lot, but it's the moments when we win that are my favorite games so far."

Being a freshman can be a difficult year for all, adjusting not only to college life, but also the college level of basketball. It has proven a little difficult for Johnson; however, she has been able to adjust.

"The play at this level is a lot more physical, and there is a lot to learn, but the coaches are there to keep pushing you and to answer all your questions," she said. "The refs are also really different. They are different in the way you can approach them, and they don't call everything and seem to me inconsistent. I had to learn to not let them get to me."

Johnson's shooting has been consistent, even when other teams are double teaming her.

Even when she is having an off-shooting day, she knows how to get around that.

"I feed off my teammates, and whatever I am not doing well I try to make up for it in other ways. If my shooting is off, I try to get more steals or more rebounds. I try to play smart and not criticize and get down on myself," she said. "You can't have a bad day on defense, though; if you can't find a way to pick it up, you won't continue to play, since it is so important to the game."

Because Johnson is only a freshman, she has most of her college career still ahead of her. She is not looking too far into the future with part of this season still left to play.

"My short-term goals are to get to the conference tournament. If we win two more games, we are definitely in, but we need to win at least one for a chance," Johnson said. "In the future I hope to take this team to a new level of basketball."

"This year was kind of a rebuilding year, and next year I am looking forward to taking a new level and trying to get the school more sports-oriented; right now we have lots of fans from the community, but we hope to get more students to the games, and hopefully, with winning more, that will happen," she said.

Since this season has been a new experience for Johnson, she looks at this year as being one of great learning experience.

"I learned to keep my composure during the game and to not let factors I can't control get to me," she said.

"I try to ignore all the negative stuff and turn the negatives into positives. I learned to remain strong and just take every day and try to learn and make myself a better player."

Some players can be superstitious when playing, but Johnson only has a few rituals to help her get through games.

"I don't like to listen to slow music the day of a game, and I always have to drink a Diet Coke before a game. If we have an away game, I make sure I pack a can or bottle to take with me and I always keep some in the fridge for home games," she said.

Johnson also says the same prayer before each game, asking for strength to play and hopes for a win.

Johnson put a lot of thought in choosing where to go to school. While she could have gone some place closer to home (Minneapolis, where her mother could watch her play) she chose SLU.

"Academically and athletically, it was a good fit for me," Johnson said. "It's a prestigious college, and academics are also really important to me."

"I am proud of my academics; my education can take me anywhere. I take my classes seriously and like to do well both on and off the court," she said.

"It's hard balancing both, and if anyone tells you it's easy they are either lying or they aren't taking one of them seriously. The pressure from both basketball and classes is good since it is making me a better well-rounded person."

In high school, Johnson led her team to a 21-8 record and was the Minnesota 3A Player of the Year her senior year.

She was ranked as the 49th-best senior in the nation by Blue Star Index and rated as the 23rd-best guard in the country by All-Star Girls Report.

As a junior, she led her school to a 28-2 record and the Minnesota state championship. She was a first-team All-State selection and was one of 47 players selected to the 2003 USA Women's Youth Development Festival.

She had a memorable career in high school and hopes to do well at SLU.