By Chris Chesky/Murphy News Service

When Minnesota Golden Gophers point guard Shayne Mullaney is asked about her motivation for her continued success in basketball, she gives a simple answer.

“My biggest motivation for playing the game is Jesus Christ, my savior,” Mullaney said. “He gave me this talent, He gave me this gift and my gift back to Him is playing for Him. He’s my motivation for doing all of this.”

Mullaney, along with her religious beliefs, also gives credit to her family and her love for the game as being the biggest motivational factors that have helped her succeed in her career through high school and the collegiate level.

Mullaney, a junior at the U, has been a mainstay player for the Gophers this season, averaging 7.2 points per game, 43-percent shooting and 7.2 assists per game, which ranks her fifth in the nation in that key category.

Mullaney’s passion for athletics comes from her family. Her father, Mark, played 13 seasons in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings as a defensive lineman, and from her older sister Kelly, who Mullaney idolized as she was growing up.

“I grew up watching my older sister, Kelly, play basketball,” Mullaney said. I always looked up to her and wanted to be just like her. That’s when I first started to get my passion for basketball.”

Mullaney first began playing basketball in kindergarten and quickly found her passion for the game.

“I think why I play the game is just for the fun of it, and not forgetting or losing sight of how much fun the game really is,” Mullaney said.

Mullaney’s talent developed as she grew up, even as she switched positions before her junior season at Eden Prairie High School. Mullaney’s coach, Chris Carr, said he felt that a position change to guard would best benefit Mullaney’s future.

“It was just a matter of understanding what her future would potentially be like as a collegiate athlete,” Carr said. “She did not like it early on. The more that we worked on it and gave her the opportunity to learn, she embraced it more. Now, she’s doing an outstanding job and is one of the best point guards in the nation.”

Mullaney’s position change proved to be successful, as she went on to set Eden Prairie High School all-time records in scoring, assists and assists in a single season.

“I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be a point guard if it wasn’t for Coach Carr,” Mullaney said. “Once he came in and took over the head coaching position at Eden Prairie, he pushed me to be in the point guard position. He came right alongside me and showed me what it was to be a point guard and how to excel at that position. He’s been a big help when it comes to being a point guard and having the success that I’ve had. He’s helped me out in numerous ways that I’m so grateful for.”

Mullaney’s success during her time in Eden Prairie set her up for success at the next level. While many schools were looking at her to join their team, there was only one school in mind for Mullaney: the U.

Her freshman campaign for the Gophers was successful, as Mullaney went on to gain valuable experience and put up good numbers for the team. Mullaney played in all 32 games for the Gophers while averaging 6.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and three assists per game while earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team.

Mullaney continued to build on that experience during her sophomore campaign and found her way into stardom this season with the Gophers. Even with the loss of star scorer Rachel Banham, the 23-9 Gophers are in position to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament. They’ll find out Monday, March 16 if they’ll be selected for a chance to fight for the national title.

“It’s something that none of us have done yet,” Mullaney said. “That’s a big goal of ours, to make it to the NCAA tournament. Everybody on the team has that goal in mind. We’re all really hungry to get there.”

In the recent Big Ten women’s tournament, Mullaney came up big in the Gophers opening win against Purdue with 19 points and nine assists. In the Gophers tournament loss to Ohio State, she contributed another nine assists, but tossed in just 3 points.

Mullaney’s future plans include completing her education at the U with a communications major and a minor in management, while also making a name for herself in the world of women’s basketball.

“My whole career here has been a dream come true,” Mullaney said. “I always knew I wanted to come here to the University of Minnesota so when I had the opportunity, I was extremely thankful just to be here and to play in front of my hometown is extremely special. Each time we have a home game it’s very special playing here in the Barn.”

Reporter Chris Chesky is studying journalism at the University of Minnesota. You can contact him at [email protected]