If reaching milestones are what marks great athletes, then women’s basketball player Shelly Woods has just put herself into a very exclusive club.

With her eight point outing against the Northern Illinois Huskies Wednesday night, the Midland senior now has 1,007 for her career, becoming just the 13th Chippewa women’s basketball player to enter the magical 1,000 point club.

“I am extremely blessed and grateful to God that I am able to do this,” Woods said. “I am also grateful to my teammates and coaches for helping me in achieving this.”

With a right side layup, only 47 seconds into the game, the 6-3 senior became the first Chippewa since Tracy Renken in 1997 to cross the 1,000 point plateau and the magnitude of the accomplishment was not lost on CMU Head Coach Fran Voll.

“Anytime you reach 1,000 points its one of those milestones that really earmark the sport,” Voll said. “This ranks her with the elite that have come through this program.”

Woods graduated from Midland’s Dow High School in 1995 and was recruited by former CMU coach Donita Davenport to play for the Chippewas.

But after being redshirted for the 1995-96 season, Woods began her Central career the same year as Voll and as thrived under his system.

“He’s like a grandfather to me,” Woods said. “He always respects me and appreciates what I have to say.”

After her playing career for the Chips’ began, Woods said a milestone such as this wasn’t even a thought.

“Before this year I never even thought about it,” she said. “It was never really a goal of mine and never really something I thought would happen.”

Voll said the greatest testament to Woods’ achievement may not be her turnaround jump shot or power layup, rather something many fans will never see.

“While it is a great tribute to her as a player, it really shows what she has done in terms of consistency and dedication,” Voll said.

Being a fourth-year player, Woods has set herself among the conference leaders as well as the CMU greats.

Coming into the season, only Western Michigan’s Shelsea Erving (1,466), Dawn Zerman of Kent (1,439) and Akron’s Cheryl Bowles (1,108) had scored more points than Woods among active Mid-American Conference players.

Sue Nissen, who played at CMU from 1988-91, is the Chippewas all-time leading scorer with 1,938 career points.

E-mail the author: Jeremy StephensLIFE Assistant Sports Editor