CSU's Winton to Attend New Orleans Combine

Cleveland State will be represented at the 2013 New Orleans Combine later this week, as women's basketball senior standout Shalonda Winton was recently invited to attend the event. Winton will be one of over 25 players attending this year's Combine which is hosted in conjunction with the NCAA Women's Final Four in New Orleans, La.

"Shay has been a dominating force for Cleveland State women's basketball in the Horizon League over the past four years. She loves this game and plays it with such a passion," head coach Kate Peterson Abiad said. "She aspires to play for as long as she can and this invitation that she has received to participate in the Combine is an honor and another step in Shay's basketball career. As a coaching staff, we are all very proud of her and hope that the Combine will provide great opportunities for her future."

The two-day Combine, which will take place this Friday (April 5) and Saturday (April 6), will include combine testing, individual workouts, controlled games and evaluation games. At the end of the two-day Combine, players will be rated on a variety of categories including; passing, shooting, strength, fundamentals, defense, attitude, career achievements and others.

Winton recently concluded her Cleveland State career, re-writing the CSU record book in the process. She now owns the top mark in three categories and ranks in the top-5 in eight others. Winton finished the 2012-13 season as the Cleveland State record holder in career rebounds (1,086), career offensive rebounds (380) and career starts (117), while also finishing the season with 659 points - a CSU single season record.Throughout the regular season Winton led the Horizon League in scoring (22.1 ppg) and ranked second in rebounding (10.6 rpg) - one of just two players in the league to average a double-double on the season. She also ranked in the top-6 in six other categories: blocked shots (1st-1.3), defensive rebounds (2nd-7.2), steals (3rd-2.2), offensive rebounds (4th-3.4), assists (6th-3.9) and free throw percentage (6th-.775).

Winton led the Vikings in all five major statistical categories this season; points (659), rebounds (323), assists (114), steals (66) and blocks (41), and was one of just three Division I players nationwide to post two triple-doubles. As of April 1, Winton ranked eighth nationally in scoring (22.0), 23rd in rebounding (10.8) and 19th in double-doubles (18).

(Release courtesy of Renee Adam, Cleveland State Athletics)