BELOIT - MacKenzie Hilliard doesn't lead the Beloit College women's basketball team in points, rebounds, assists or shooting percentage.
Ask first-year Buccaneers coach Jennifer Randall, though, and she'll suggest the former Monticello High School standout might lead the entire Midwest Conference in enthusiasm.
Randall didn't have to look too far into her mental rear-view mirror to offer some evidence.
"She's kind of our ringleader," Randall said recently.
Details, please?
"Over (the holiday) break here, the past couple of days we've gotten them up in the mornings and done some dance workouts to keep them moving," Randall said. "MacKenzie decided to have dress-up days for both sessions and got all the girls to dress up.
"Day one was hip-hop, and today was the '80s. She wore spandex leggings that were bright blue with a bright yellow sports bra with lace underneath and a giant headband with her hair all teased," Randall continued. "She really makes the girls laugh."
Randall said the Buccaneers made her promise the workout photos wouldn't show up on the team's Facebook Page. Everybody, that is, except Hilliard, who suggested her "high-waisted bright blue spandex with leg warmers" outfit is always at the top of her dresser drawer.
"I'm definitely the energy of the team," Hilliard confirmed. "If I have one (best) attribute, it's brining the crazy energy and getting people motivated. I'll do anything to get the girls motivated or lighten the mood or ease their nerves."
In that regard, Hilliard has been the perfect captain for a Buccaneers team playing for its third coach in four seasons.
The 5-foot-8 senior guard is averaging 4 points and 3.5 rebounds in 21 minutes of playing time per game for Beloit, which is 4-7 overall and 1-5 in the NCAA Division III Midwest Conference.
Hilliard has had her moments - she scored 11 points vs. Monmouth College and 12 vs. Illinois College on back-to-back nights in early December.
But the former go-to player for Monticello has no illusions about being a major points producer for the Bucs.
"I just definitely feel like I'm a solid role player," Hilliard said.
"I look to shoot when I'm open and make some shots when needed, but overall I don't try to do anything outside of my capabilities."
As much fun as Hilliard likes to have, Randall stressed that she is serious about continuing to improve as a player.
"I think she's improved a lot (over last season) from what I saw on film," Randall said. "Her defense has gotten better and her foot speed as well. She's always had a nice shot and she just needs to be consistent from a shooting standpoint."
Hilliard terms her years at Beloit as "an up-and-down roller coaster," in part because of the coaching changes.
"Basketball has really helped me grow as an individual, especially dealing with three different coaches," she said. "It's been a lot of learning how to change each year to give a new coach what they want. Hopefully that will help in life when I'm employed."
Hilliard is earning a chemistry degree. She expects to take a year off "to reload my brain so I have some mental stamina to go to graduate school" before pursuing a graduate degree in cosmetic science.
But first, she has some goals remaining for the final couple months of her competitive basketball-playing days.
"Collectively, it's to win," she said. "Personally, I'd like to score more and be a little more of a presence. Pick my teammates up when they're down and keep the energy up on the floor."
Randall has no doubts that Hilliard will use her "very positive, fun, bubbly" personality to keep the Buccaneers smiling - even if it requires more questionable apparel choices.
"I've always been the quirky one my entire life," Hilliard said. "It comes from my dad (Tom Hilliard), I'm told. I like making people laugh, whether it's by making fun of myself or the next person."
Ask first-year Buccaneers coach Jennifer Randall, though, and she'll suggest the former Monticello High School standout might lead the entire Midwest Conference in enthusiasm.
Randall didn't have to look too far into her mental rear-view mirror to offer some evidence.
"She's kind of our ringleader," Randall said recently.
Details, please?
"Over (the holiday) break here, the past couple of days we've gotten them up in the mornings and done some dance workouts to keep them moving," Randall said. "MacKenzie decided to have dress-up days for both sessions and got all the girls to dress up.
"Day one was hip-hop, and today was the '80s. She wore spandex leggings that were bright blue with a bright yellow sports bra with lace underneath and a giant headband with her hair all teased," Randall continued. "She really makes the girls laugh."
Randall said the Buccaneers made her promise the workout photos wouldn't show up on the team's Facebook Page. Everybody, that is, except Hilliard, who suggested her "high-waisted bright blue spandex with leg warmers" outfit is always at the top of her dresser drawer.
"I'm definitely the energy of the team," Hilliard confirmed. "If I have one (best) attribute, it's brining the crazy energy and getting people motivated. I'll do anything to get the girls motivated or lighten the mood or ease their nerves."
In that regard, Hilliard has been the perfect captain for a Buccaneers team playing for its third coach in four seasons.
The 5-foot-8 senior guard is averaging 4 points and 3.5 rebounds in 21 minutes of playing time per game for Beloit, which is 4-7 overall and 1-5 in the NCAA Division III Midwest Conference.
Hilliard has had her moments - she scored 11 points vs. Monmouth College and 12 vs. Illinois College on back-to-back nights in early December.
But the former go-to player for Monticello has no illusions about being a major points producer for the Bucs.
"I just definitely feel like I'm a solid role player," Hilliard said.
"I look to shoot when I'm open and make some shots when needed, but overall I don't try to do anything outside of my capabilities."
As much fun as Hilliard likes to have, Randall stressed that she is serious about continuing to improve as a player.
"I think she's improved a lot (over last season) from what I saw on film," Randall said. "Her defense has gotten better and her foot speed as well. She's always had a nice shot and she just needs to be consistent from a shooting standpoint."
Hilliard terms her years at Beloit as "an up-and-down roller coaster," in part because of the coaching changes.
"Basketball has really helped me grow as an individual, especially dealing with three different coaches," she said. "It's been a lot of learning how to change each year to give a new coach what they want. Hopefully that will help in life when I'm employed."
Hilliard is earning a chemistry degree. She expects to take a year off "to reload my brain so I have some mental stamina to go to graduate school" before pursuing a graduate degree in cosmetic science.
But first, she has some goals remaining for the final couple months of her competitive basketball-playing days.
"Collectively, it's to win," she said. "Personally, I'd like to score more and be a little more of a presence. Pick my teammates up when they're down and keep the energy up on the floor."
Randall has no doubts that Hilliard will use her "very positive, fun, bubbly" personality to keep the Buccaneers smiling - even if it requires more questionable apparel choices.
"I've always been the quirky one my entire life," Hilliard said. "It comes from my dad (Tom Hilliard), I'm told. I like making people laugh, whether it's by making fun of myself or the next person."
