Kelli Hilt

By Kara Walser
UWRF Sports Information

Kelli Hilt, a freshman, brings a lot of energy to the Falcon women's basketball team in her first season.

"Kelli has been a great addition to our basketball team this year," says Falcon Coach Cindy Hovet. "She's positive and is an excellent teammate."

Hilt has equal respect and positive things to say about her teammates and coach. "I love my teammates and coach. I know they are always there for me," she says. "Coach is strict but pushes us to be the best players that we can be."

Hilt, the daughter of Brian and Patti Hilt, is originally from Lakeville, Minn., where her mother is a third-grade teacher and her dad is in marketing. Hilt also has two older sisters.

For her high school basketball team, she averaged 10 points, four assists, four rebounds, and three steals per game. She was named team captain and earned all-conference in the tough Lake Conference her senior year.

As a guard and freshman on the team, Hilt "stepped into a starting role for us mid-way through the season and has done a nice job," says Hovet. She also goes on to say that Hilt's position on the senior dominated team is a tough one. "We've been hounding her to shoot more but that part might take a little longer; she's doing many of the things we really need her to do right now though."

The 5-6 guard has played in all 24 games for the Falcons and started 16 times. She is averaging 3.3 points and 3.1 rebounds a game. She has 38 assists and 22 steals and averages over 22 minutes of playing time a game. She scored a season high 14 points in a 67-60 win over Stevens Point on Dec. 2 and grabbed a season high 10 rebounds against Wesleyan on Dec. 30 in a game at the Grand Canyon Classic.

"The best part of the game is competing, and of course winning," says Hilt. "Being around people that love the game as much as you do is also one of the best parts."

"As of right now I am going into business administration with a minor in international studies and Spanish," she says. "I have a lot of time to choose what I want to do and I am not in a hurry by any means."

Hilt decided to minor in international studies because of her love of traveling. "My dream job would be one that is overseas."

Hilt has lived in Florida and Wyoming and has traveled to various states across the country. Although she has not yet been overseas, she one day hopes to travel to Australia, Europe and parts of China.

Being in basketball, she is getting some experience traveling with the team. Hilt traveled to Arizona with the team and parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin. "The trips are so much fun. Hanging out with the girls and getting to play basketball teams you haven't played before is awesome."

Hilt chose UWRF because of the small class sizes, her major, the location, and of course the basketball team.  "I like many things about UWRF. The University is close to home, but far away enough for me to be independent."

"On the team, I look up to all my seniors. They are awesome girls on and off the court. The seniors give it there all and looking at them as a younger player, you just want to be able to grow up be as good as they are," says Hilt.

"I look forward to being a leader on the team and having the younger girls look up to me like I do to all the older girls," she says. "Also, I am looking forward to just playing the game. Basketball is a fun game and I can't wait to play more games in the future."

"She's going to be a very good player for us as she continues to grow in our program," says Hovet.