Senior Megan Bergerud set the UIS women’s basketball record for the only player to make 1,000 points in a career. Not only can Bergerud shoot but she can also play many other positions as well. Coach Chad Oletzke described Bergerud as “versatile.”

Bergerud is a senior business management major and this is her fourth season playing for UIS. Bergerud has played in all five of this season’s games and she was also a prominent player last season.

Prior to UIS, Bergerud played for her high school team in her hometown of Virginia, Ill. During her time playing for Virginia High School, Bergerud played on the varsity team for four consecutive years.

Her freshman through junior year, Bergerud played in all games of the three seasons, starting in all her freshman and junior year games. She was also named to the All-GLVC second team as a junior and led the team in points made per game and shooting percentage. Last season Bergerud also had the second highest three-point field goal percentage of the conference at .436.

This season Bergerud is the leading scorer for her team with a total of 83 points. She has also played the most total minutes in the five games for the team.

Bergerud reached a total of 1,007 points in her career in the game against Oakland City University. In this game, Bergerud had the most points for the team with 24. This was Bergerud’s top scoring game for the season.

In the game against Hillsdale, Bergerud reached 23 total points. Bergerud also tallied five assists and nine points against Midwest Baptist.

Bergerud has a field goal percentage of .432 for the season. She also has a three-point field goal percentage of .346. Bergerud has a .833 free throw percentage, making 10 of 12 shots. Bergerud was the leading scorer in three of this season’s games.

Bergerud stated that a positive for playing at UIS is it is a “good school and a good opportunity to get a good education while playing.” Bergerud stated that she chose UIS because it provides a U of I degree and “of course, basketball I saw as a good opportunity to play at a high level.” Another reason UIS was a good fit for Bergerud was that it is “close to home, so my parents can come to the games.”

A negative for playing here at UIS is that the team doesn’t “have the best record.” Bergerud also said that she wishes “we could win every game, but that’s not realistic.”

Bergerud likes that all of the players get along even outside of playing basketball. She also feels as though she provides “a lot of experience, since I have been here for four years.” This experience allows her to provide advice to other players when they are in need.

When asked about setting the school record for making 1,000 points Bergerud stated that it was “cool to be the first one to get the 1,000 points.” She also added that she wished they would have won the game, but “I feel blessed to be the first one to get in the 1,000 point club.”

Coach Chad Oletzke explained Bergerud’s abilities as versatile because she provides many different abilities to the team. Oletzke states, “She’s a good defender, she can handle the ball, she shoots the ball, she can post up, she can penetrate, she can past it, she has a good understanding of the game, [and] she is coachable.” These were some of the abilities that Oletzke said that Bergerud possessed; she “contributes in a lot of different areas.”

A major area in which Bergerud assists the team is through scoring. Oletzke explained that Bergerud “provides a lot of scoring punch for us.” Oletzke also stated that she “can create offense for herself and others.”

Oletzke explained Bergerud’s relationship with other players by stating that they “all look up to her.” Also, she has a “good personal relationship with all the players and people admire her abilities and what she has accomplished as a player.”

Bergerud has made improvements as a player, and she is constantly trying to get better according to Oletzke. Oletzke also stated that she “has been very enjoyable to coach” and fun to watch progress throughout his time coaching her.