For the 2017-18 basketball season, junior Addy Clift averaged 21.7 points per game, shot 87 three pointers and finished three games with more than 30 points.
“I’m out there to have fun and that’s what I want to try to do and give God all the glory for what he’s given me,” Clift said.
After recording these conference leading statistics, Clift received five postseason awards.
At the conclusion of regular season, the Heartland Conference named Clift to the first team all-conference for the first time in her career. Following the Lady Eagles first postseason win in the tournament and then elimination by Lubbock Christian University, Clift was named to the all-tournament team.
Outside of the conference, OklahomaSports.net selected Clift for their All-OSN Oklahoma Division II first team honor list.
Then, the Division II Conference Commissioners Association honored Clift on the All-South Central Region first team, because her average points per game placed her as the ninth leading scorer in women’s Division II.
Being honored on the all-region team meant automatic consideration for Clift as an All-American. Clift received honorable mention on the All-America list March 20, becoming only the second Oklahoma Christian University player to be honored as an All-American behind McKenzie Stanford.
“Out of all the players [in the Heartland Conference], I would pick Addy to be on my team before any other ones,” Stanford said. “She’s faster than most people. She can shoot way out. She can create for herself. I definitely think she is the best player in the Heartland.”
According to Stanford, who played with Clift for two years and served as a graduate assistant coach this year, Clift’s biggest strengths are ability to shoot from behind the arc and create shots for herself.
From behind the three-point line, Clift shot 87 for the season, the third highest single season total in conference history. For her single game high, she scored 14 three pointers against Lubbock Christian Feb. 17.
To improve her shot, Clift said she spends time in the gym daily.
“Everyone always asks me how many shots I take, and I really don’t know,” Clift said. “I don’t count the shots. I pretty much go every day for like 45 minutes to an hour and a half. I’ll just stay in there and kind of get a good sweat going, work on my shot and work on my form especially in off season. Then, in the summer, I’m pretty much in the gym every night.”
Apart from her strengths on the basketball court, Lady Eagles’ Head Coach Stephanie Findley said she believes Clift’s attributes extend beyond the court within her character, work ethic and overall humble attitude.
“She’s very self-motivated,” Findley said. “She’s the hardest worker. She’s in the gym daily shooting on her own, so I don’t have to do any coaxing in that regard. She’s very determined and probably the hardest working kid I’ve maybe ever coached.”
“As a teammate, she’s so humble. She is really only interested in what can we do better and how can I be better and make the team better. Her humility is what keeps her working. She wants to be better and be the best that she can be.”
From a teammate perspective, Stanford said Clift was willing to help anyone on the team if needed while bringing constant positivity to the team.
“She was a very uplifting, unselfish teammate,” Stanford said. “She always has a smile on her face. Sometimes, when I was struggling the most, I knew no matter what she was always going to be there. She was going to pat me on the back no matter what and tell me that she believed in me and that I could do it.”
Going into her senior year next season, Clift said she wants to remember it is not about the awards but about enjoying the game.
“I just have to remember I’m out there to have fun and that’s what I want to try to do and give God all the glory,” Clift said. “I really do love coming out here and playing and just going out there and having fun.”
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