Chelsea McCullum regardless of role, giving 110%
Senior Chelsea McCullum has taken on a plethora of roles since her freshman year at Millikin. On the basketball court, she worked her way into a significant number of minutes as a junior before landing a spot in the starting lineup this season.
Some would describe McCullum as an unsung hero of sorts on the court. On a team that features a deep bench, McCullum has recorded the fifth-most amount of minutes per game, averaging 22.0. Her defensive tenacity has cemented her in a leadership role this season.
“At the end of the day I know that I’m going to give 110% because I know that so many people look up to me on the defensive side and everything starts with person guarding the ball,” McCullum said. “I know that my teammates trust me, and I trust them, so I just go as hard as I can for as long as I can.”
The Millikin women’s basketball team is 12-3, off to a 6-0 start in conference play, having just picked up a key 66-57 victory over rival Illinois Wesleyan at the Griswold Center in front of packed bleachers on Wednesday, January 11. In the midst of a nine-game winning streak, the Big Blue have strung together an impressive stretch of games, letting their defense create their offense as a transition heavy team.
“Defense definitely translates into offensive success for us,” McCullum said. “I always believe that defense wins championships but who is actually willing to buckle down, feel the legs burning and take the charges. Who wants to guard the ball for forty minutes at a time, that’s Millikin women’s basketball.”
Building off of last season’s successes of making it to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament, the team has worked hard this season to make it a step further in 2023.
“Last year was just the first step, obviously we want to get further on from that,” she said. “I would love to get another ring on the finger and I’d love to be with my teammates and hold the big trophy at the end of the year, so that’s definitely the main goal.”
McCullum’s on-court role may have slightly changed, but her work ethic, enthusiasm, and passion for the game has remained unchanged. As she moved into more of a leadership role this season, she credits Jazmin Brown, one of last year’s seniors, with helping in creating her leadership style.
“I’ve always had support from my other teammates, and I’ve always said that I’m a compassionate leader so that’s how I like to lead on the court,” she said. “I’ll pull people the side and be like hey, you made a mistake there but you’re fine, pick it up on the next one. That’s how my past teammates, like my teammate Jaz from last year, led me and that’s how I want to lead others on the court.”
But in-game leadership is only the tip of the iceberg. With several newcomers on the roster this season, McCullum’s firsthand experience of not playing much early on in her career at Millikin gives her perspective regarding her teammates’ roles who maybe don’t see much court time.
“We want to make sure they know that regardless of if they’re getting minutes or not getting minutes, they’re still a part of this program,” she said. “They get to help the top 10 be who they are and be the best they can be on the court, so that’s the big role for them right now.”
With several returners on the roster from last year’s squad, the team features depth that was not the norm early on McCullum’s time at Millikin.
“My freshman year we were only playing seven people, maybe even six,” she said. “So having 10 people you know you can give 110% on the court for three, four minutes at a time and you will get a break is great.”
In addition to the returners like McCullum, Elyce Knudsen, Miranda Fox, Sophie Darden, and Bailey Coffman, several other players have racked up a significant number of minutes on the court including Sarah Ness, Abby Ratsch, Emily White, and newcomer Sarah Isaf.
On a team, the importance of knowing your role is vital to the team’s success. On the defensive side of things, McCullum leads the Big Blue, averaging 2.3 steals a game for a total of 35 this season.
“I like to think of myself as that utility player,” she said. “Will I score 25-30 points a game? No, that’s Elyce’s role – she can do that. Will I take like 5 charges a game? No, Miranda can do that. You want two points here and there, I can get that for you. If you need me to guard the ball for 20 minutes, I’ll do that for you. I know my role, and other people on the team know their roles, and that’s what I’ve always liked about this team. We’re very-team based and once you know your role then you’ve got a championship team.”
She has averaged 8.3 points per game this season, recording a career high of 16 against Greenville in December.
Off the court, McCullum has invested time in a multitude of clubs and student-run ventures. Her involvement in the student-run venture Millikin Creates allowed her to gain real-life marketing experiences through collaboration with businesses seeking outside consultations.
When she first joined Millikin Creates, they helped a local Decatur business convert from a physical storefront to an online store. She has also been a part of helping businesses in the US and abroad with their social media and graphics needs.
McCullum is a Long-Vanderburg Scholar at Millikin, and she is in several clubs within the Tabor School of Business. She serves as the Marketing Chair for Women in Business and the Marketing Chair for the Tabor Business Club, is a part of the Tabor Student Advisory Council, and she works in the Center for Entrepreneurship.
In addition to her academic and athletic commitments, McCullum tries to set aside time for herself within the busy schedule to spend time doing things for herself that she enjoys.
“I make sure to take time for myself because you can get burned out, so I always have my own little time to either read or call my family,” she said.
A digital media marketing and Spanish double major, McCullum landed an internship with EcoLab located in St. Paul, Minnesota where she worked last summer. Upon graduation, McCullum has accepted a job with the company as a marketing associate.
A humble leader though she’s seen an uptick in her on-court presence, Chelsea McCullum hasn’t forgotten where she started when she first arrived at Millikin.
“Yeah, I’m starting now but I’m still going to treat it like it was my freshman year or sophomore year where I’m only in the game for 90 seconds,” McCullum said. “Give it all you’ve got.”
Credits:
Aubrey Staton and Kevin Krows