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SPRINGFIELD — Jackie Stiles approved of the pose flashed by her likeness.
“I loved to penetrate the lane and it shows me driving, I think,” she said.
MSU officials revealed the bronze likeness on Bear Boulevard on Sunday afternoon in front of a couple hundred spectators. The statue, announced in March of last year, is the first for any former student-athlete on campus.
“I really wish I could put it into words. I never in my wildest dreams imagined I would have something like this. To walk past this every day, wow, and at the university I love so much… I’m speechless.”
Even at this stage of her life, in her fourth season on Kellie Harper’s staff, Stiles still has to pinch herself.
“(This) puts it all together. People ask me all the time: ‘You could’ve cone to UConn? Do you regret that?’ Absolutely not! What I experienced here for four years, I thought it was going to ruin the rest of my lift because, what would compare to that? Now, I’m doing the next best thing and helping our team bet the best it can be. I couldn’t ask for anything better right now.”
Stiles posed for photos with a who’s who of MSU and league names: University President Clif Smart, former head coach Cheryl Burnett, and Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner Doug Elgin among them.
A foursome showed up wearing shirts depicting the numbers most synonymous with her career: 3,393.
The most career points scored in NCAA history has been Stiles’ accomplishment for 16 years. Now, it’s in serious jeopardy as University of Washington senior Kelsey Plum entered Sunday’s game against Arizona State 181 points shy of breaking the mark.
Stiles has not been able to get in touch with Plum yet.
“I’m trying not to be an extra distraction. I hope she knows I’m available if she eve rneeds any extra support because I know what she is going through.”
Stiles has already expressed that she hopes Plum will dethrone her. She had some advice to offer for the short gap left to cross.
“I defintely want her to focus not just on the end result but the day-to-day journey with her teammates. When I look back on my career, it was the people who made it so special. I wish I would’ve stopped to enjoy the day-to-day process.”
“I would say: don’t try to change your routine. Focus on the things that got you to that point. That will really help lessen her stress.”
