Energy is an unmatched quality when it comes to the Drury Lady Panthers.
“The defense is a little bit different. Molly’s [style] is high pace, high pace, high pace,” said Drury junior Kelsey Winfrey.
It’s a system that works well for Winfrey.
“I love the defense, I love Coach Miller’s coaching style,” Winfrey said.
Head Coach Molly Miller would say the same about Kelsey’s playing style.
“I just love her passion, she’s never going to take a play off,” Miller said. “You know when Kelsey’s on the floor, she’s going to go hard. She’s going to give it all she’s got.”
Those are a few reasons why Miller recruited Winfrey out of high school.
However, the Lebanon native was set on fulfilling a lifelong dream of playing for Mizzou.
Yet, after two seasons with the Tigers, Winfrey was ready for a change.
“My sophomore season at Mizzou didn’t go as planned, so I thought about it and I wanted to go D-I but I didn’t want to sit out a year, and it kind of just worked out perfectly that I could come here and play right away and it’s only an hour from home,” Winfrey said.
So Winfrey transferred, bringing her experience from practices within an SEC program.
“Being on the floor against those huge, monstrous basketball players, I think it did help me a lot,” Winfrey said.
It forced Winfrey to get better on the outside, becoming a better shooter… exactly the type of player Miller was looking for.
“It rises our level up on offense and I think she’s capable of being that scorer and being that consistent shooter for us,” Miller said.
Another shooter for the Lady Panthers and another spark plug to keep Drury’s engine going.
“Just to be a spark when I come off the bench, to bring that energy and positivity [sic] and be that leader on the court and off the court,” Winfrey said.
From Division I to the No. 1 team in Division II, Winfrey adds another piece to Drury’s already loaded roster.
