Final season winding down for former Perry all-stater Lowe

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Former Perry three-time all-stater Maggie Lowe poses with her parents and coaches Saturday during Senior Night ceremonies at Wayne State College (Neb.) where Lowe has been the starting point guard for the Wildcats. Photo submitted.

WAYNE, Neb. — For as long as she can remember, Maggie Lowe has been in love with the game of basketball.

Now, after three all-state seasons at Perry, the Wayne State senior point guard is nearing the end of her collegiate career.

“I can’t believe it will all be over soon,” Lowe said. “It is not like I will stop playing basketball, it just won’t be like this. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t playing basketball — I have always loved it.”

The Wildcats (15-14) finished sixth in the eight-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division. They were 54-52 upset winners over host University of Mary (17-9) Wednesday in the conference tourney.

Wayne State will now play in the quarterfinals of the tourney when they battle the University of Sioux Falls at the Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The Cougars (22-7) were second in the NSIC South and own regular season wins of 81-59 and of 77-72 over the Wildcats.

The latter came last Saturday in Wayne, where Lowe was one of the players honored during Senior Night ceremonies.

Lowe was recruited out of Perry by Chris Kielsmeier, who was the Wildcat head coach for her first three seasons before departing for Cleveland State University. He was replaced by Brent Pollari.

Wayne State was 17-12 (13-9), 23-7 (16-6) and 25-7 (18-4) in Lowe’s first three seasons. They are currently 15-14 (9-13) in her senior campaign, a combined record of 79-40 (56-32).

Lowe will graduate this spring with a degree in Sports Management, with a minor in Business Administration.

“When I first got here I couldn’t believe how much work was involved,” she said. “Playing sports is like having a full-time job while also going to school full-time. I don’t think I understood how much work you have to put in, but I have no regrets. I would not trade the experience for anything and would do it again, no problem.”

She said the choice of Wayne State was an easy one, and one she said has proven to be the right one for her.

“When I visited here I liked the small size of the school and the community and I loved how supportive the community was of the women’s basketball team,” Lowe said. “They are very loyal and extremely friendly and really see the team as their own, and I love it.”

Lowe was started every game of her final season. She averages 6.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.95 assists and 3.18 steals per outing.

She has 442 career points, 165 career assists, 90 steals and 111 rebounds. Lowe has hit 152-411 (37 percent) from the field, including 90-of-266 (35 percent) on 3-pointers and 48-of-68 (71 percent) at the free throw line.

“It hasn’t all been perfect, and I there have been times when I was frustrated or mad at how things were going, but those just made me stronger and make the experience more rewarding, I guess you would say,” Lowe admitted. “I have loved my time at Wayne and I already know I am really going to miss it.”

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