Michigan State University senior guard Gabby Elliott (3) making way across the court for the game against Wright State University at the Breslin Center on Nov. 12, 2023.
MSU women's basketball senior guard Gabby Elliott had to trust the process and those around her in the journey of getting back on the court.
"I trust myself, I trust my teammates, I trust my coaches, I trust everybody, I trust everything," she said. "I just feel like I put in all that work to be here, so it's no reason not to trust it.”
Having suffered an ACL injury last season in an early matchup against Ohio State, Elliott said there was days she felt like she was getting back in her groove and other days she felt like there was no point.
"It was hard ... definitely highs and lows," Elliott said. "Somedays you feel like, 'you know, I’m really getting back to where I need to be' and other days you feel like 'I’m not doing anything but wasting my time.' But you really do need to see it through and trust the process."
On Sunday afternoon, Michigan State women’s basketball defeated Wright State 99-55 with the help of Elliot's great breakout performance on the court. Elliott had 12 points, 5-out-of-7 from the field, 2-out-of-2 from the three-point, two steals and seven rebounds. She helped MSU tie Wright State before the end of the first quarter and began the second quarter with a deep three-pointer.
After working so hard, Elliott is happy with where she is now.
"It's good, it's like doing all that work and seeing the paycheck at the end," Elliott said. "I’m happy to just be out there. It’s not even about scoring with me – it’s just nine months of not playing and being out there with my teammates and now I get to do it. I just enjoy and take it in."
Elliott's teammates were equally as excited to see Elliott back in action this season.
"I love playing with her," graduate student guard Moira Joiner said. "I think she’s kind of like the jack-of-all trades type of player, you know. She’s going to rebound, she’s going to score. You (don't realize) she got that many points, but at the end of the game (you think) 'wow.' I think all teams need a player like that."
With this being head coach Robyn Fralick's first season with the team, Elliott's performance on Sunday gave her the chance to see really how valuable Elliott is on the floor.
"She comes in and gives a huge boost to the game," Fralick said. "She does it in a lot of ways – defensively she can guard so many spots and then offensively she has a knack for finishing, getting to the free throw line, and attacking. She was able to also help us really convert our defense into offense, so she did a great job."
MSU women's basketball will play again this Thursday against Detroit Mercy at 6:30 p.m. in the Breslin Center.
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