Junior guard Kim Sheehy isn’t flashy.

She doesn’t speak loudly or talk trash to attract attention. She is the main outside scoring threat on a basketball team that struggles to find the net at times. Sheehy is the Hornets’ leader in points per game (12), minutes per game (36.3) and ranks second on the team in steals per game (2.7). Her importance to the team transcends statistical output, however.

Before Sheehy came to Sacramento State she already had a storied athletic career. The St. Paul, Minn., native has played basketball since she was in the fourth grade.

“I just liked it the most,” Sheehy said. “It has always been my favorite.”

In high school Sheehy was an award-winning soccer player as well as an accomplished track star. Sheehy said she considered trying out for the Sac State soccer team.

“I went out and kicked the ball around a few times, but I just kept thinking about the open gym,” Sheehy said. “It wouldn’t have been fair to them or me to be thinking about basketball the whole time I was out there.”

When asked if she ever thought about continuing track in college Sheehy laughed and emphatically said no.

“Track was just to keep in shape,” she said. “It was more social than it was competitive.”

Even though Sheehy was the team’s most consistent scoring option last year, she never imagined she would be awarded the Big Sky’s Newcomer of the Year.

“It was an absolute shock,” Sheehy said. “My mom told me and I couldn’t believe it.”

Sheehy doesn’t model her game after any pro players in particular, but she admits she is an avid Spurs fan.

“I like Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Kevin Garnett (of the Minnesota Timberwolves).”

Sheehy explained that as a Minnesota native she has to like the Timberwolves as well because there is no one to root for in New Mexico, where she lived for much of her life.

Sheehy’s teammates recognize her abilities, even if Sheehy herself is reluctant to.

“Kim is definitely a leader,” senior center Katelyn Ciampi said. “I look up to her as a player, and I respect her as a person and a player.”

Ciampi admitted that Sheehy keeps to herself, but she can be very vocal on the court.

“She’s the voice of the team when we’re on the court,” Ciampi said.

Junior and fellow backcourt mate Stephanie Cherry said that the two have always had chemistry on the court.

“I can always look for her for a shot,” Cherry said.

According to head coach Dan Muscatell, Sheehy is an important piece of the team in more ways than one.

“She’s everything,” Muscatell said. “We look to her for scoring and leadership. She’s a hard worker and she leads by example.”

Despite the fact that Sheehy is the main outside scoring threat on the team ?” she has made five of the team’s 11 3-pointers through two games ?” Muscatell insists that she is more than just an outside shooter.

“She can shoot off the dribble and can drive,” Muscatell said. “The defense has to account for her and she makes her teammates better.”

The team started the year off on a sour note, losing its first two games they played by an average of 20 points. Across the board the sentiment was the same.

“We need to take better care of the ball,” Muscatell said of the Hornets 25 turnover average through two games. “We’re not playing together yet, and we can’t win games playing like we have.”

Cherry agrees.

“We need better team chemistry,” Cherry said. “Everybody is playing as individuals and we need to play together better.”

Rounding out the sentiment was Sheehy herself. “We definitely need to play more together,” Sheehy said. “That’s the number one thing, helping each other.”

Despite the rough start Sheehy is excited for the team this season. When asked what it would take for the season to be considered a success to her, Sheehy paused for a moment before answering.

“To do better than last year,” Sheehy said. She paused another moment before unleashing the team’s actual goal. “And win the conference championship.”

Forgive her for being shy about saying what she wants. She’ll let her game on the court do the talking. Sheehy got off to a good start on Saturday when she hit a 5-foot game-winning jumper in overtime to beat Southern Utah 68-67.

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Benn Hodapp can be reached at [email protected]