By: Jill Wunrow
GreenBayPhoenix.com

GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - As No. 12/12 Green Bay senior Hannah Quilling's (Eau Claire, Wis.) career with the Phoenix (23-1, 13-1 HL) draws to a close, she will more than likely not be remembered by the amount of points she scored or rebounds she grabbed. Quilling's personality and toughness displayed on the court is contagious and her ability to shoot long three pointers from anywhere is impressive, but the assists she dishes out is what's most important to the 5'7" guard.

Quilling's mom Jeni coached her in YMCA basketball when she was in second grade, along with three other players that had probably never seen a basketball before.

"My mom would let me score five or seven points and then I had to get five or seven assists before I could score again," Quilling said. "It was her way of showing me that the point column wasn't where you make it or break it. I know the MV P typically goes to the person with the most points, but I'd rather have more assists than points in a game, it's just the way I am."

The lesson on assists Quilling learned as a young child is evident in her play even at the Division I level at Green Bay where players are known for their unselfish character. During her junior campaign, Quilling finished the season leading the Horizon League in assist-turnover ratio (1.9) with 121 assists and 64 turnovers and is currently the conference leader in the same statistic with 47 assists and 20 turnovers (2.4). On Jan. 22, 2011, she dished out a career-high 11 assists against Milwaukee while playing a career-high 39 minutes.

This season, Quilling is second on the team with 81 assists compared to classmate Julie Wojta (Francis Creek, Wis.) who has 84. Of the 24 games Quilling has appeared in her senior year, she has dished out more or the same amount of assists than points scored in nine games.

"Part of the reason I fell in love with the assist is that it gives, and it gives everyone the excitement because you're out there with the people you love being with no matter how they're playing," said Quilling.

Perhaps Quilling's positive, unselfish attitude is the reason why she has handled her role so well this season. Quilling considers herself to be the sixth man of this team, a crucial role which she takes pride in.

"To be that spark coming off the bench and to bring that intensity that may be missing in the game is huge for me," Quilling said. "My personality fits that role whether I'm one, two, three, four, five, or six coming off the bench, it doesn't change the way I'm going to play."

Quilling started the first seven games of the season before being replaced by freshman Megan Lukan (Barrie, Ontario) in the starting lineup. Four games later, Quilling started the first two games of Horizon League play Dec. 29 and 31 after Lukan suffered a mild injury. With Sarah Eichler (Grafton, Wis.) rehabbing a sprained ankle, Quilling has been back in the starting lineup the past four games.

"For me it's about playing within the system and if that means coming off the bench or starting, I'm going to do it with a smile on my face," said Quilling of her role. "The heart of this program is to give what we can individually and play a particular role to make Green Bay go where we need to go."

It sounds a lot easier said than done, but just as Quilling was taught the importance of assists at a young age, she was also taught the importance of team and seeing the bigger picture.

"When I was younger and if I was struggling in basketball, my mom would never let it bother me," said Quilling of her mentor. "It's a team mentality in seeing the bigger picture and that's just how I've always been since I was a kid. Most people see my starting role as a bigger deal than I do and that's just the reality of the game that people are going to nitpick at; that's just the way it goes. It's not personal and it doesn't frustrate me."

There's no doubt the lessons Quilling's parents, Chris and Jeni, taught her as a child growing up have and will certainly carry her through the rest of her life. In fact, Quilling has already had an impact on the young Lukan she has guided this season to fill the point guard position for the Phoenix upon the final buzzer sounding on her career at Green Bay.

"Hannah has taught me to never stop fighting. Fight every play, every possession," said Lukan. "She's such a team player and always the first person to help pick someone off the floor when they fall down."

"We talk a lot about when we leave, no one is going to remember the starting five, it's about leaving an impression and showing your character," said the senior captain. "What I want people to see is that the big picture for me is the team. I don't just say it to the media or say it just to say it; I mean it from the heart."

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