CM Life women’s basketball athlete of the year: Kaihla Szunko

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Kaihla Szunko

Senior forward Kaihla Szunko has been a part of the good and bad as a Central Michigan women’s basketball player. She experienced an 11-19 freshman season, with the team finishing with a 3-13 Mid-American Conference record. Now, as a senior, she led the Chippewas to a 20-11 overall record and an 11-5 MAC record.

Szunko was consistent throughout the season, averaging 15.5 points per game and 11.1 rebounds per game. The senior started and played in every game for the Chippewas, contributing in important situations.

Arguably her biggest moment as a Chippewa came against in-state rival Eastern Michigan in the McGuirk Arena finale. CMU, vying for a first-round bye, clinched it with a win over the Eagles. With the Chippewas down one, Szunko hit a jumper from the left elbow, giving CMU a 68-67 win and a first-round bye into the MAC tournament.

Honorable Mention: Shonda Long

Senior guard Shonda Long was a scoring machine for the Central Michigan women’s basketball team. In the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, Long scored a career-high 40 points against Buffalo. She was 12-of-20 from the floor, also making seven 3-point field goal attempts.

The senior also surpassed former CMU women’s basketball player Molli Munz for all-time made three pointers in a career.

She finished with 230 made three pointers in her four-year career.

Honorable Mention: Niki DiGuilio

The freshman guard was named the MAC Freshman Player of the Year, in route to starting and playing every game in her first season as a Chippewa. She averaged 10.7 points per game and was a reliable three-point shooter for her team.

She made 69 three pointers throughout the season, only trailing the all-time three-point record holder and teammate Shonda Long by nine.