Freshman’s abilities soar, Central off to torrid start
John Remus IIIOne of the biggest reasons the women’s basketball team has gotten off to a 4-0 start is the play of true freshman guard Angel Chan.
Chan has been a spark off the bench for the Chippewas so far this season averaging seven points and 15.3 minutes per game in the first four games.
She had six points and two assists in CMU’s win against Cleveland State Tuesday.
Her breakout game came at Michigan Nov. 30, when she led the team to a 79-57 win with 19 points in just 19 minutes.
“She has come in and added depth to the point guard position and it’s a very good thing that she can come in and contribute at that position,” said coach Eileen Kleinfelter.
“She gives us a different look on the floor with her three-point shooting and her quickness.”
The Wyoming native started at point guard all four years of high school.
She earned Class B all-state honors from the Associated Press and the Detroit Free Press twice, was a two-time member of the Grand Rapids Press all-area team, earned all-conference honors her junior and senior seasons and was nominated to the McDonald’s All-American team.
But instead of going to a powerhouse school such as Michigan State, she came to a CMU team coming off a 10-18 season and one that hasn’t had a winning season since 1992-1993.
“When I came up here for the first time and met the coaches and saw the facilities, I knew right then that I wanted to come here,” Chan said. “I love to win and I love basketball, it’s my life.”
She is the first person off the bench backing up senior point guard Erin Kuhl. The two players combine to average 12 points per game and have an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.64-to-1.
Chan’s ultimate goal is to eventually start, but knows she has plenty of work to do. And playing behind Kuhl is helping.
“There are so many things I need to improve on to become a better ballplayer,” Chan said. “You have to be calm out there. College is way different from high school in that there are so many good players from all over.”
Kleinfelter said one of the reasons Chan came to CMU was because she would have the chance to contribute right away.
Chan has done just that.
“I can see her getting a lot more playing time in the future,” Kleinfelter said. “She is going to be a stronger, more physical player as the years progress. She is extremely coachable and I look forward to coaching her in the years to come.”
With Kuhl graduating at the end of the season, Chan is the point guard of the future. The Chippewas haven’t won a MAC regular season title since 1984-1985, but Chan said she hopes to change that quickly.
“I want to win the MAC,” Chan said. “I love the competition and when I’m playing I’m just in the zone, the winning zone, and all I think about is winning.”
