Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Photo by: Madison Case
Giebelhausen readies for final regular season game of Saluki career
03/02/2018 | 11:59:00 | Women's Basketball
Kylie Giebelhausen can't believe her senior day is already here. The senior guard from East Peoria, Ill. has tried to stay focused all season on the task at hand- the next opponent on SIU's schedule.
"It's crazy to think about," Giebelhausen said. "I don't think its even hit me yet. This season has gone by so fast. I think every season feels like that by the time we hit conference play but this season feels like it has gone by the fastest."
For Giebelhausen, senior day is the culmination of an outstanding four-year career, both on and off the court. On the court, Giebelhausen has started 119-straight games for the Salukis and will leave the program ranked in the top-25 for all five major statistical categories, points, rebounds, blocks, assists and steals, and the only player in program history with at least 1,000 points/500 rebounds/250 assists/100 steals/100 blocks.Â
Off the court, she is a two-time MVC Scholar Athlete selection and carries a 3.73 grade point average as an exercise science major. A team captain, Giebelhausen consistently volunteers her time and was a recipient of the Missouri Valley Conference's Good Neighbor Award, given to one athlete from each school, each semester, who best exemplifies the ideals of the conference.
Giebelhausen will be joined on senior day by her parents, Lori and Jeff, who are mainstays at Saluki games. On the road or at the SIU Arena, the Giebelhausens have been to nearly every game this year. From Morehead, Kentucky to San Juan, Puerto Rico, Lori and Jeff almost always come equipped with baked treats for Kylie and her teammates.Â
"I'm just thankful they've gotten to come to all these games," Giebelhausen said. "I know its probably taken a toll on them with all the traveling and all the hours in the car. For us, traveling on the bus makes me tired so I can only image. I'm just thankful that they've been able to watch almost every game this season. I know some places are a little far to travel for them but its been really special to have them at almost every game."
Giebelhausen has been a part of 68 Saluki wins and counting during her four years at SIU, the most wins by a Saluki senior class in 22 years. And while Giebelhausen knows each of those 68 wins has taken a complete team effort, SIU's win at Purdue on Nov. 20, 2016 sits above the rest when she reflects on her Saluki career.
"Last year at Purdue," Giebelhausen said of her favorite memory as a Saluki. "It was a big game and it kinda proved to everybody on our team that we were capable of beating any team we played. We lost some close games to teams we shouldn't have and then we end up winning against a BCS school, in the Big Ten, that is always pretty good and has a pretty good program. We all worked together and everybody put in work that game and I'll never forget it."
Giebelhausen is adament that she won't forget that game any time soon but not because she scored 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting and played 39 of a possible 40 minutes, but because of the way her teammates came together and how each played a significant role in Southern's first win over a Big Ten program in 23 years.
"I did have a good game, I hit some threes and some big shots, but everyone did something," Giebelhausen said. "I wouldn't have gotten those shots had (my teammates) not gotten the rebound or gotten the assist. That's why the Purdue win is so memorable to me. I did have a good game, but at the same time, so did every one else and we won. I can't say scoring 25 points, if we lose, was a good game and it definitely wouldn't have been memorable."
Despite drawing significant interest from teams overseas to continue her basketball career, Giebelhausen has given little thought to the idea. While she is no doubt flattered, she plans to live at home, at least initially, and attend physical therapy school at Bradley University in the fall.Â
"I have my heart set on going to PT School," Giebelhausen said. "I've put so much work in in the classroom, just as much as I have on the court, and I have all these goals outside of basketball I want to accomplish. As much as I love the sport, I've given my past 15 years to it. So I want to dip my feet into something else and work towards something else."
Giebelhausen and the Salukis host the Evansville Purple Aces on Saturday, March 3 with tip-off set for 2 p.m.
"It's crazy to think about," Giebelhausen said. "I don't think its even hit me yet. This season has gone by so fast. I think every season feels like that by the time we hit conference play but this season feels like it has gone by the fastest."
For Giebelhausen, senior day is the culmination of an outstanding four-year career, both on and off the court. On the court, Giebelhausen has started 119-straight games for the Salukis and will leave the program ranked in the top-25 for all five major statistical categories, points, rebounds, blocks, assists and steals, and the only player in program history with at least 1,000 points/500 rebounds/250 assists/100 steals/100 blocks.Â
Off the court, she is a two-time MVC Scholar Athlete selection and carries a 3.73 grade point average as an exercise science major. A team captain, Giebelhausen consistently volunteers her time and was a recipient of the Missouri Valley Conference's Good Neighbor Award, given to one athlete from each school, each semester, who best exemplifies the ideals of the conference.
Giebelhausen will be joined on senior day by her parents, Lori and Jeff, who are mainstays at Saluki games. On the road or at the SIU Arena, the Giebelhausens have been to nearly every game this year. From Morehead, Kentucky to San Juan, Puerto Rico, Lori and Jeff almost always come equipped with baked treats for Kylie and her teammates.Â
"I'm just thankful they've gotten to come to all these games," Giebelhausen said. "I know its probably taken a toll on them with all the traveling and all the hours in the car. For us, traveling on the bus makes me tired so I can only image. I'm just thankful that they've been able to watch almost every game this season. I know some places are a little far to travel for them but its been really special to have them at almost every game."
Giebelhausen has been a part of 68 Saluki wins and counting during her four years at SIU, the most wins by a Saluki senior class in 22 years. And while Giebelhausen knows each of those 68 wins has taken a complete team effort, SIU's win at Purdue on Nov. 20, 2016 sits above the rest when she reflects on her Saluki career.
"Last year at Purdue," Giebelhausen said of her favorite memory as a Saluki. "It was a big game and it kinda proved to everybody on our team that we were capable of beating any team we played. We lost some close games to teams we shouldn't have and then we end up winning against a BCS school, in the Big Ten, that is always pretty good and has a pretty good program. We all worked together and everybody put in work that game and I'll never forget it."
Giebelhausen is adament that she won't forget that game any time soon but not because she scored 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting and played 39 of a possible 40 minutes, but because of the way her teammates came together and how each played a significant role in Southern's first win over a Big Ten program in 23 years.
"I did have a good game, I hit some threes and some big shots, but everyone did something," Giebelhausen said. "I wouldn't have gotten those shots had (my teammates) not gotten the rebound or gotten the assist. That's why the Purdue win is so memorable to me. I did have a good game, but at the same time, so did every one else and we won. I can't say scoring 25 points, if we lose, was a good game and it definitely wouldn't have been memorable."
Despite drawing significant interest from teams overseas to continue her basketball career, Giebelhausen has given little thought to the idea. While she is no doubt flattered, she plans to live at home, at least initially, and attend physical therapy school at Bradley University in the fall.Â
"I have my heart set on going to PT School," Giebelhausen said. "I've put so much work in in the classroom, just as much as I have on the court, and I have all these goals outside of basketball I want to accomplish. As much as I love the sport, I've given my past 15 years to it. So I want to dip my feet into something else and work towards something else."
Giebelhausen and the Salukis host the Evansville Purple Aces on Saturday, March 3 with tip-off set for 2 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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