The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/480355
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL gram can continue to get better than it ever was before." Goree, a forward from Grand Rap‑ ids (Mich.) Wyoming Park, played in only 12 games total during her fresh‑ man and sophomore seasons at Mich‑ igan, and Barnes Arico legitimately doubted if she'd ever be a regular con‑ tributor for her. "When I first got here, Cyesha was coming off of a knee injury and she was out of shape and had gained a little weight, and I remember think‑ ing, 'I don't know how this girl is ever going to play for us,'" the coach said. "She worked incredibly hard in the offseason and got herself in incredible shape and she proved me wrong. She came back and just had this chip on her shoulder. "She made a believer out of me, and I know that anything she puts her mind to do she is going to be able to achieve. She came from not getting a minute to being an All‑Big Ten player. Not many people can say that." Goree averaged 12.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game during her junior campaign, improved to 13.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per contest during her senior year, and earned second‑ team All‑Big honors both seasons. With her time at U‑M just about finished, Goree can look back now and reflect on her roller coaster ride of a career and apply it to whatever she chooses to do in life. "I can relate to everyone," said Goree, who hopes to become a coach someday. "I can relate to a freshman who's not playing. I can relate to per‑ son who's been injured. I can relate to someone who's been successful like I was my junior and senior years. "Nothing is impossible and I've lived that. I mean in just two years I went from not playing at all to being second‑team All‑Big Ten. You can do anything with hard work." After spending her freshman and sophomore years at North Carolina and her junior year at Trinity Valley Community College, Smith wrapped up her career at Michigan. At Trinity Valley, she led the team to a NJCAA national championship and earned tournament MVP honors. As a junior at Michigan, she led the Wolverines in scoring with 13.8 points per game. "I really didn't know what to expect with Shannon when she came in," Barnes Arico said. "She did a little bit of everything for us. Most nights we needed her to defend one of the best guards on the other team. We also needed her to rebound the basketball and get into the open floor for us. "She's small, but she's one of the best rebounders on our team. She ob‑ viously averages double figures in points, too. I think when our team plays well we're kind of fueled by her." Smith has had an unorthodox ca‑ reer path, but she wouldn't change any of it. "It's definitely been a roller coaster," she admitted with a laugh. "But it has taught me a lot about myself and life. It taught me not to give up. "It showed me that you're going to go through obstacles, but they just make you who you are. Everything happens for a reason." ❏