A star Saluki women’s basketball player was shot in the leg Monday night, possibly ending her season on the team, while she was attempting to transport a teammate from St. Louis back to Carbondale.

A Saluki Sports press release issued Wednesday afternoon stated that Nikki Gilmore, a starting guard for the Salukis, was struck by a bullet in the calf of her lower-right leg in St. Louis while driving fellow teammate Heather Slater back to SIUC.

A St. Louis Police Department report states Gilmore was standing outside of her vehicle on the 4200 block of Garfield in St. Louis when another car flashed its bright lights. The report states two gun shots were then fired, and Gilmore felt pain in her right leg.

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A car bright-lighted me when I turned on Heather’s street. I thought they wanted to pass, Gilmore said. I went ahead and parked. I got out, heard a small pop and then felt the pain.

Gilmore said she felt like she was in a dream when she realized she had been shot.

It was like I was dreaming. I couldn’t believe it was happening to me, Gilmore continued. I’ve never heard a real gun shot in my life. It sounded like a firecracker. I thought it was my foot, but then I saw all the blood coming out of my leg.

Sgt. Owen Williams of the St. Louis Police Department said police considered the shooting a random act, not common to the area.

Slater’s mother, Carol, said similar incidents have not occurred often since she has lived in the neighborhood.

It’s not like that around here, she said. It’s very quiet here. We’ve been here almost six or seven years really and had nothing like that. It was just strange.

The press release stated Gilmore drove herself to Barnes Hospital after the shooting and was released at around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.

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Cindy Scott, SIUC women’s basketball head coach, said the situation was unfortunate, but she is thankful Gilmore was not more seriously injured.

She could be dead, she said. It’s unfortunate. It’s horrible, but it could have been a lot worse.

Gilmore was back on campus Wednesday and is expected to be sidelined indefinitely, the press release said. She is scheduled to meet with Dr. William Thorpe, orthopedic surgeon for SIUC, later today.