Idaho State’s senior Chelsea Pickering took the time out of her schedule of basketball and school to talk with the Big Sky Conference. Pickering talked about how she got started playing basketball, ISU’s great start to the conference season and coming back after several injuries.

Pickering, from Lumberton, Texas, was granted a fifth year this season after battling through injuries. Her injuries included a concussion, hamstring issues and knee injuries. If you add up all the games she played in, it is less than someone who has played in all their games for four years. She only played three games her freshman year, 16 as a sophomore, 23 her junior year and finally all of the games last season. So far this season she has had to miss six games due to a meniscus tear which she had to undergo surgery.

So far this season, Pickering has 185 points, 59 rebounds, 33 assists and 12 steals. Pickering has helped her team to an 8-0 conference start. The last time ISU went undefeated in conference play was in 2000-01 when the Bengals finished 16-0. That year, ISU won the regular season and the conference tournament. That was the first year the Bengals went to the NCAA tournament.

ISU will compete at home on Thursday against Montana State and on Monday against Montana. Both games begin at 7:05 p.m. MST and can be watched for free on Big Sky TV. ISU already defeated MSU and UM earlier this season on the road.

Q: How did you get started playing basketball?
A: I was 7 years old whenever I first started playing basketball. There is a league in southeast Texas called “Little Dribblers” that has different age groups starting at the age of 6 and goes all the way up to the age of 14. I played every year until I got into high school. 

Q: When being recruited, what made you choose Idaho State?
A:One of the biggest issues with recruiting was that I had no idea what school I wanted to go to. I passed up a lot of offers from teams in the Southland Conference, as well as an offer from the University of Utah hoping to get an offer from a bigger school. When it came down to May, I didn't have any more offers left on the table therefore I signed with a Junior College team named Panola. I was planning on playing one year there and then transferring to a Division I school the following year, however two weeks after I signed, (former ISU) Coach (Jon) Newlee called me on the phone and invited me to come to Pocatello for an official visit. I visited and decided that this would be the place for me. 

Q: What have been some of your favorite memories at Idaho State?
A: Winning the big games are some of the biggest memories, like beating University of Utah on its court, the great comeback we had in conference two years ago. Whenever I played with (Andrea) Videbeck, Oana (Iacovita), and Devin (Diehl), and sweeping the Montana’s this year was huge for us. Going to Cancun this year was a great experience as well. However, the best memories I have are the road trips, locker room talk, inside jokes and fun I have with my teammates every year. 

Q: How much have your coaches and teammates helped you?
A: Coming into college as a freshman, you have a tremendous amount to learn about the game of basketball that was never taught in high school, and the speed is so much greater. I have to say that my teammates have helped push me to the next level and motivate me to play better day in and day out. My all time favorite player to play with was Jenna Brown because of her leadership, dedication, and heart for the game. Over the past 3 1/2 years, the coaches have helped me mature into a better player and teammate and I couldn't have asked for anything more. 

Q: What are your personal goals for this season?
A:  The past four years at Idaho State, we have not won the conference regular season or post season tournament therefore my main goal this season is to win at least one of those titles, if not both of them. I think that it would be amazing and really great for our community if we could win the regular season title and host the tournament, especially since any home team plays better on their own court. 

Q: ISU has had a great start to the conference season. What do you contribute that to? How does it feel to be starting that way?
A: It is such a wonderful feeling starting the conference 8-0. In some of those games, our offense was painful to watch but we just stuck to our defense to help us get the job done. If it wasn't for our defense, we wouldn't be undefeated in conference play right now. Another main contributor to our success is our team chemistry. We get along well on and off the court and are always having fun and laughing about something. This year's team is the closest compared to the previous teams I have been a part of. 

Q. You were granted a fifth year after battling through injuries. (Including knee injuries, a concussion and hamstring issues). What went through your head when you found out that you were granted that fifth year? And how does it feel to be playing this season? 
A: Having a fifth year is so beneficial for me and my coaches. I am able to graduate in May with an undergraduate degree in Healthcare Administration and a Master's in Business Administration with an emphasis in finance. It has allowed me to finish graduate school completely and debt free. Being the most experienced player on the team is very helpful for my coaches and teammates. I know what is expected of me and I have been involved in the system the longest therefore I can help coach the younger kids in understanding the motion offense. 

Q. What made you keep coming back after all those injuries? I mean some people would have given up playing.
A: Every injury teaches you something new about yourself that you didn't know before. With every injury, I have gotten stronger and stronger mentally and physically and just knew that nothing was impossible. A strong work ethic and wonderful friends, family members, and a strong community are what really helped me through each difficult time. In the back of my mind I would think "why me" but in the end I know that God has a plan and purpose for my life and I just had to give it all to him to help me recover. 

Q: It’s your senior season, what are your plans after basketball and school? I see that you will have double major in business and health administration.
A: After the season, I plan on continuing playing basketball overseas for a few years. Whenever I decide to hang up the shoes, I'll most probably reside in Texas and try to find a job in the health care industry, preferably an administrator at a small physician practice.  

Q. How hard is it to be working an internship at the Center for Orthopedic Rehabilitation, playing basketball and going to school? What things do they have you doing at your internship?
A: The internship was for this past summer only and it was extremely difficult managing my time with the internship, work, school, and basketball workouts not to mention how tired I was every day. For my internship, I was responsible for renewing and updating the employee handbook as well as creating documents for the certification of the MRI machine. I completed those projects and also completed daily tasks such as opening and sorting the mail, paying bills, scanning documents into the batch system, and helping co-workers with whatever they needed. The good thing now is that the internship is over and I am not currently working during the basketball season, however graduate classes are extremely difficult. There is so much group work, assignments, and reading every week that I am accountable for, and I also must find time for practice and games. It has been a struggle but all I can say now is that it is my last semester of school and college basketball for the rest of my life so I am trying to enjoy it. 

Q: Tell us something we wouldn’t know about you?
A: I have five tattoos. My first one was when I was 18, I got the famous love and basketball sign on my hip. My next two came when I was 20. I got my eyeliner tattooed on my eyes and I also have a tat on my wrist that means "sisters" in Hebrew that my sister and I got together. My last two came this year at the age of 22. I have a dragon on my side that is symbolic for my grandmother. She was diagnosed with cancer this summer and she has been collecting dragons since as long as I can remember. I call her Nannie therefore the tail of my dragon is shaped like an "N". My last one is in my ear, it is a cat face that is symbolic for my other grandmother that passed away 3-years ago. She loved cats and used to have hundreds of cats that lived under her house.

Q: If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive who would it be and why?
A: My number one guest would have to be Jesus because the man is awesome and has done so many things for me that I am truly blessed for. Second person would have to be my deceased grandmother because I never did get to tell her bye and let her know how much I loved her. And lastly, I would invite Tim Tebow because yes I am a fan which is why I "Tebow" it before every game!! 

Q: If you couldn’t play basketball what sport would you do?
A: I would definitely play volleyball. It is such a fun sport to play and as a team we have actually had open gyms where we would put up the volleyball nets and play. 

Q: What if your favorite road trip in the Big Sky and why?
A: I would have to say Portland State because of the shopping.

Q: Who is the best dancer on the team and why?
A:By far Abyee (Maracigan) because she doesn't take it very seriously and will bust out moves whenever and wherever no matter who is around. My favorite is whenever she runs around the locker room making up her own dance and singing the entire song! 

Q: Where is your favorite place to eat in Pocatello and why?
A: Well since there are so many options it is very hard to say but I am going to go with Oliver's because that is where I work in the offseason and their burgers are to die for.