Luna makes history in senior year

Coming in as a self-proclaimed defensive specialist, senior guard Kelsey Luna has achieved national recognition for her scoring efforts,adding to her resume Saturday by setting the ISU career 3-point record.

“That’s awful special to do it on senior day and to do it at home,” assistant coach Clint Weddle told he statesman on Sunday. “I am very proud of her. She is so humble and just once again I think it is just a wonderful accomplishment for a wonderful young lady.”

With just three games left in her senior season and on senior day, Luna connected on her 257th career 3-pointer to break Kourtney Mennen’s former school record of 256 set in 2003. Luna then hit another three to put her career total up to 258.

“I can’t even put into words what I feel right now and how much of an honor it has been to be a part of this program,” Luna said after the game Sunday. “To be able to add to that is wonderful. Kourtney Mennen was a tremendous shooter. I never got to meet her, but from what I heard she was a tremendous athlete so I am just honored to be in that company.”

Despite accomplishing such a feat, Luna remained humble and immediately turned the spotlight off herself and onto her motivation.

“I have to give glory where glory is due, and that is to God,” Luna said. “Without him, none of this would have ever been possible.”

Before coming to ISU as a freshman, Luna was always more of a traditional point guard and defensive player. However, she immediately became known for her scoring ability, she broke the 1,000-point barrier during the first game of her senior season.

“I never thought I would get 1,000 points,” Luna said. “I thought maybe in my entire basketball career I might get 1,000. I was always more of a true point guard where I distribute and defend.”

Luna quickly became known throughout the Missouri Valley Conference for her sharp shooting and her ability to perform under pressure.

One of the ways Luna keeps herself calm on the court is by writing a verse from the Bible on her hand before every game. 

“Every moment I get, I glean strength from the Bible,” Luna said. “So it’s nice to have a little piece of Jesus with me out there on the court.”

On senior day, when Luna broke the school record, she took inspiration from Jeremiah 29:11, which states “‘For I know the plan I have for you declares the Lord. Plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.’”

“I thought that was appropriate for senior day,” Luna said. “Just kind of leaving behind what has been my life for four years and looking for something positive in the future.”

Now on a five-game winning streak and with only two games left in her senior season before the MVC tournament, Luna has a chance to lead her team to an MVC tournament championship and automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.

However, when it is all said and done, Luna wants fans to remember her for the impact she had off the court.

“I really just want to be remembered for me, personally,” Luna said. “A lot of community members, professors and administrators made a huge impact on me, and I just hope that I could do that in return.”