42 Valerie Gustafson
Senior · Forward
Olympia, Wa.

SPU: Three-year letterwinner and returning starter at forward...Academic all-conference as a sophomore and junior…Ranks No. 4 in career field-goal accuracy and No. 5 in single season percentage.

Junior: Finished fourth in GNAC field-goal percentage and was team’s No. 4 scorer…Started all but one game and scored in double figures 15 times, including three double doubles…Averaged 11.6 points and shot 62 percent in a 12-game stretch in midseason…..Had 11 points, eight rebounds and three steals in second round playoff win over Montana State Billings…Made three or more steals seven times.

Sophomore: Seized a starting role for the final four games and averaged 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in the last three games...Originally won a starting role in mid-January but then missed two games with an ankle sprain. Did not get back in regular rotation until early February...Debuted with 15 points and 10 rebounds vs. Cascade College after missing first game with ear infection. Averaged 10.8 points and shot 21-32 from field in first four games... Helped compensate for ailing Kelley Berglund in key late-season win at Western Oregon, scoring 15 points and getting six boards.

Freshman: Valuable reserve who finished as the team's No. 3 scorer and seventh among conference leaders in field-goal percentage...Scored in double figures 14 times, including each of the final four games. Biggest game may have been in regional semifinal win over Alaska Fairbanks, with 18 points (7-9 FGs) and three steals in 22 minutes...Started six times in first nine games while seniors Liz Guppy and Jana Holme were slowed by injuries...Following slow start at foul line, hit 78 percent (29-37) in final 10 games.

Black Hills High School: Four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at center...State 3A player of the year, all-state and USA Today honorable mention All-America as a senior...Averaged 19.5 points as Black Hills was 21-5 made state tournament for fourth consecutive year...Three-time all-Evergreen League, including league co-MVP junior season and MVP senior season...Led Wolves to 21-2 record runner-up finish at state junior season...First team all-state as a junior...Averaged 16.4 points and 11.0 rebounds as a junior...Tacoma News Tribune Player of the Year for 2000...Three-year letterwinner in volleyball, earning first team all-league. Lettered four years in track & field and qualified for state times. Placed seventh in 100 hurdles as senior.

Personal: Valerie Rae Gustafson was born September 6, 1981 in Olympia, Washington...European studies major.

Career Highs

• Points: 19 vs. Humboldt State, Jan. 27, 2001; vs. Seattle University, Jan. 25, 2003
• Rebounds: 10 vs. four teams
• Assists: 7 vs. Alaska Anchorage, Jan. 10, 2002
• Steals: 4 vs. five teams
• Blocks: 4 vs. Saint Martin's, Jan. 11, 2003