Off the court, senior LaQuanda Chavours likes to make people laugh. She jokes around with teammates to keep their spirits up, but the games end when the 5-10 forward hits the hardwood.

I just like to make people laugh to keep them up, she said. But, when I get on the court, I mean business. There’s no jokes on the court.

Part of the reason why Chavours takes her basketball so seriously is she has worked hard to make it to where she is today.

Advertisement

Chavours came to SIUC from Racine Horlick High School in Racine, Wis., where she was an All-Conference selection, averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds per game.

She did not see much playing time her freshman and sophomore seasons with the Salukis, and her junior season was cut short by injury and illness.

Chavours broke her foot in practice on Nov. 9, 1994 and missed the first 15 games last season. After extensive rehabilitation, Chavours was ready for action, only to be sidelined with pneumonia for the remainder of the season.

Chavours said she looked to the future in order to overcome the frustration she felt during last season.

I just looked forward to next season, knowing it wasn’t my last season, she said. Just knowing it wasn’t over yet and I still had another year to prove what I could do.

Her hard work and optimism have earned Chavours a starting spot on the squad this season. She has started in all three of the Salukis’ regular season games, with one of her best performances coming at Murray State. Chavours scored 11 points and had seven rebounds against the Racers.

Chavours said she has had to adjust to starting, but she is glad to have the opportunity to contribute to the team.

Advertisement*

I’ve had to get back in the flow of things, she said. It feels good just to have the chance to show what I can do, because I haven’t had that the past three years.

SIUC women’s basketball head coach Cindy Scott said she expects Chavours to be a major contributor to the team this season, especially on defense.

She’s just had one thing after another and this is her year to shine and do something for us, Scott said. She’s very intense, very hard working particularly in her defense. I could put her on anybody and she’ll get them contained for us.

Chavours said she hopes her intensity on the court will help keep her teammates focused.

I’m hoping my intensity will rub off on them and they’ll play with the same intensity, she said.

Teammate Christel Jefferson, who has played with Chavours throughout her time at SIUC, said Chavours has become a leader on the squad who tries to keep the team positive even in bad situations.

If we’ve lost a game, she’ll find something funny that happened to cheer us up, Jefferson said. She knows how to make you laugh when things aren’t going quite so well.

Chavours said she is happy just to be a part of Saluki women’s basketball and she cannot highlight one aspect of her basketball career.

I love everything about it, she said. There is no one favorite thing. Just being a part of the team and winning.