CHICAGO (December 19, 2005) – Seniors Megan Slattery and Shandrel Young have not only been teammates on the North Park University Viking basketball team, they also have been roommates and best friends since their freshman year. It was only fitting then that they each scored their 1,000th point in the same game.
Scoring that many points in a college career is far from an everyday occurrence, so reaching the plateau together made the accomplishment even sweeter, they say.
“It was really amazing reaching my one thousand points with Megan because she has been my best friend since freshman year as well,” says Young. “It was an outstanding feeling.”
“Since Shandrel and I were both freshman, we both have said it was a goal of ours to get it while we were here,” says Slattery. “At the beginning of this year we said it would be cool if we could get it the same game because we knew we were only like two points away from each other, and it was a realistic goal this year.”
“Everyone kept asking us how far away we were, and it was a countdown ever since,” says Young.
They achieved their goal last Monday against Aurora, when Slattery scored 14 and Young netted nine. “This is the first time in my 30-year-career that two players have accomplished this in the same game,” says head coach Jack Surridge.
In addition to sharing the scoring mark, both have averaged double figures since their freshman years, are recognized as team leaders and have shared captain duties. Both also have been CCIW All-Conference selections.
Off the court, the similarities continue with each working towards a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. “Both are Dean’s List students who have helped us accomplish Top 25 Academic status as recognized by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association,” says Surridge.
Despite their many similarities and achieving their 1,000-point records together, they reached their goals via different paths. Slattery came to North Park after playing for nationally recognized New Trier High School, a Chicago suburban school in which 98 percent of the students live well above the poverty line and almost all are white. Young grew up in the city of East Moline and attended United Township High School, at which only 60 percent of the students live above the poverty line and the racial makeup is diverse.
Young has played nearly every position on the team depending on its needs. She holds the CCIW record for free throw attempts and free throws made, Surridge says. Slattery has played post and distinguished herself as one of the top rebounders in the league.
Surridge says he is thankful for the opportunity to have coached both players. Slattery and Young will be presented special basketballs to honor their recent achievements.
Copyright © 2011 The Evangelical Covenant Church.