In her previous three seasons as the starting point guard for the Shawnee State Lady Golden Bears, Smith has played a supporting cast role.

Thursday, February 24, 2000

In her previous three seasons as the starting point guard for the Shawnee State Lady Golden Bears, Smith has played a supporting cast role.

She played her role so well last season that she helped SSU win the NAIA Division II National Championship.

But with three starters gone from that championship team, Smith’s role changed, and it changed in a big way. Smith was thrust into the spotlight along with senior Brandi Baker as the main players for the Golden Bears.

All the 5-foot-9 Smith did was average 17.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists a game as she led Shawnee State to the American Mideast Conference championship.

And for her efforts, the coaches not only voted her to the All-AMC first team, but selected her as the AMC Player of the Year.

"I was lucky. I didn’t expect it," said Smith who was an All-Ohio standout for the Chesapeake Lady Panthers.

"This year I played a different role. My first there years I didn’t have to score. I worked out all summer and tried to improve every aspect of my game. It had to be done."

Smith missed a couple of games this season with an injury, but she returned just as strong and even put up a career-high 30 points in a game against St. Vincent.

Smith was joined on the first team by Baker who averaged 16.9 points and 8.7 rebounds. Shawnee’s Robin Smith was voted the conference Coach of the Year.

Rio Grande had two first team selections, senior Meghan Kolcun and Misti Halley.

"It’s a nice honor just to be with the top players in our conference. Brandi Baker deserved it," said Smith. "I was very surprised. I wasn’t thinking about anything like (first team All-AMC). It’s nice, but the only thing we’re thinking about is winning the national championship."

Being a senior and three-year starter meant Smith would have to assert herself more on the floor as a player and leader. The added responsibilities didn’t phase her.

"There was not any pressure put on me. It was something that had to be done and it was my senior year. It had a lot to do with my teammates and coaches having confidence in me and letting me go," said Smith.

The Lady Golden Bears hosts Mount Vernon at 2 p.m. Saturday. A win puts Shawnee in the championship game at home at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Although winning the conference tournament brings a guaranteed NAIA tournament berth, Shawnee will be invited despite losing as an at-large team.

"I think we have a good shot at (repeating). I don’t think anyone thought we’d win our conference this year after all the players we lost," said Smith.