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Redshirt sophomore forward Ella Lune played in 19 games last season, averaging 1.8 points per game and 1.2 rebounds per game.
Now, Lune has played 19 games thus far in the season, starting in four of them. She currently averages 4.5 points per game and 2.9 rebounds per game.
With a career-high of 23 points against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville this season, the Brimfield native is starting to record more stats to her athletic career.
Lune is a traditional program nursing major, and her schedule can be pretty hectic with clinical, labs and other classwork on top of being a student athlete, she said.
In this Q&A, Lune talks about how she balances being a student and an athlete, her favorite memory with the team thus far and why she would tell her 10-year old self to put her trust into God more.
Q: When did you first start playing basketball?
A: “I started playing basketball around third grade.”
Q: How do you balance being a student and an athlete?
A: “It’s crazy a lot of the time. People ask me that question a lot, but it’s something that I just do. It’s just a part of what my life is right now. It is crazy, especially with clinical, getting up super early. Like [Thursday], I had clinical from 7 [a.m.] to 3 [p.m.] and then the game at 5 [p.m.]. [Thursday] was crazy, but it’s okay, we make it work. Just get sleep and getting in a routine and just being prepared. I’ll study on the bus, and I’ll find ways. Jayda [Johnston] is a nurse, and she’ll help me a ton and help tutor me. Sometimes, I’m like, ‘OK J, I’m confused about this and this,’ and she’s so helpful with me.”
Q: How do you feel like the team chemistry is this year?
A: “All my past years, the team chemistry has been great. This year is amazing. Everybody loves everybody, it is a family. We have our ups, we have our downs, but we’re so close. Everybody loves each other, and I feel like you really got to see that on the court, like how everyone contributed, everybody’s happy for each other, and we all just have one goal and I think that helps having that family aspect.”
Q: If you had a walkout song, what would it be?
A: “I think this would be my walkout song because this is the song we play at every practice, and this is my song: ‘Like a G6.’ I love that song.”
Q: In a perfect world, what would be your postgame meal?
A: “I love fish and chips, and that’s what I get from Dirty’s. Probably grilled cheese, mac and cheese, chips and salsa put together.”
Q: If you had the power to bring one celebrity on this campus, who would it be?
A: “Probably Justin Bieber. His music is so good. He could perform concerts everyday, and he’s a great guy. He’s my favorite celebrity for sure.”
Q: Who on the team are you giving the aux to?
A: “If it wasn’t myself, I’d give the aux to Sydney James-Desroches.”
Q: Pancakes or waffles?
A: “Waffles for sure. Well, actually French toast if we can add that because that’s what I get for breakfast on every away trip.”
Q: Do you put anything on your French toast?
A: “Butter, I like cinnamon on there and syrup.”
Q: Did anyone inspire you to play basketball?
A: “I don’t think anybody necessarily inspired me to play basketball. I think I was just inspired to play some type of sport by my dad. He’s super passionate. He played hockey at the pro level, so I just wanted to be successful like him in sports.”
Q: Who’s your favorite WNBA player?
A: “Probably Caitlin Clark. I know the most about her, and she’s an insane shooter.”
Q: Do you think the Earth is round or flat?
A: “Round, for sure.”
Q: Do you have any superstitions before a game?
A: “I don’t think I have any superstitions, but I definitely have a routine. My thing is look good, feel good, play good. I’ll do my hair at home, get to the gym, do my makeup, and I’m usually the last one to get my ankles taped because I’m doing my makeup. Then, we’ll go out and do our warmup. I always come back into the training room and put lotion on. That’s probably my routine, and I keep that every time.”
Q: Do you put on a lot of makeup or a lighter amount?
A: “Definitely a lighter amount because I don’t want to be sweating it off and getting it on my shirt. I’ll do mascara, my eyebrows, some bronzer, some contour. I just have to.”
Q: Do you have any secret or hidden talents?
A: “I can sing a little bit, but that’s about it.”
Q: There’s a one point difference in the game. Would you rather have the game winning shot or the game winning block?
A: “Game winning shot. I love a block, but that shot would be insane.”
Q: What has been your favorite memory with this team thus far?
A: “I really good memory was when we went to Little Rock. We were going to Alex Rouse’s house because she lives in Little Rock, so we went there for dinner. Being there, I wouldn’t want to be there with any other team. The bus ride there, we played the speaker loud on the bus. Memories like that and being on the bus with them. The bus driver probably gets so annoyed with us because we’re so obnoxious.”
Q: Who are your biggest supporters?
A: “My mom and my dad for sure. My dad has always been in the sports world, so him just supporting me in that aspect. Then, my mom is a sweet, kind, caring soul. Me and my dad are having more difficult conversations in sports, but she’s there to pick me up and support me about that.”
Q: What is your favorite season?
A: “Summer for sure. I love summer. It’s hot, it’s warm. I get to go see family up in Canada. My friends are all home. I’m also here doing workouts in the summer for a little bit, but gosh I love summer. Tanning, pool, lake, ocean, all the above.”
Q: Where is the best vacation you’ve ever been on?
A: “Last year, me, Ellie Colson and Hannah Purcell went to Florida for spring break, and it was a last minute planned trip. We probably decided this three days before we were going to go. We went to Ellie’s in Nashville, Tennessee, and then we flew from there to Florida to Fort Lauderdale. It was so fun, we were only there for three to four days, but it was a lot of fun.”
Q: How did it feel to get your first collegiate points against Indiana?
A: “I remember that. The gym at Indiana is insane, and it was such a cool experience. The crowd was insane. I don’t think I expected to go in and get any points, but when I got my points, I was like, ‘OK, that was cool.’ To get my first points against Indiana, I’ll take that. It was a cool experience.”
Q: Is there a game you felt the atmosphere was at an all time high?
A: “Iowa State was crazy. Their fans and the crowd was insane. The warmups, the music was so loud. The starting lineups, flashing lights everywhere. It was insane, and the gym was nice too, but there were so many people there.”
Q: Who’s the funniest person on the team?
A: “Probably either Sydney [James-Desroches] or Ellie Colson. Honestly, everybody’s funny. I laugh at [Lalani] Ellis, Tiny [Lewis]. Tiny is so funny without even trying to be funny. She can just stand there and I’m dying laughing. [Kennedy Davis] is funny. There’s so many people on the team that are funny. Imma put myself in there too.”
Q: Did you play any other sports?
A: “I played basketball, and at the same time, I started playing volleyball. I played club volleyball until my freshman year of high school, and then I was just AAU basketball. I still played volleyball in high school until senior year.”
Q: What made you decide to stop volleyball?
A: “I feel like, at that point, for traveling, I couldn’t do basketball and volleyball. At that point, I just needed to choose. I was better at basketball, so I was like, ‘OK, lets just do basketball.’”
Q: Knowing everything you know now, what would you tell 10-year-old you?
A: “Don’t worry. Everything will work out, God has a plan, and just trust in him. I feel like at a younger age, like in high school, I definitely worried a little more than I should have. Now, I have my trust in God, and I just give it all to him.”
Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or at zhflippin@eiu.edu.