Now, fast forward through four collegiate seasons and Keller is on the verge of making history for the Lady Cougars as she stands just 27 points away from tying the school’s all-time scoring mark of 1,718 points that was set by Tara Seiter, who played for MVNU from 1995-1999.

"Four years ago, Katie caught my attention as a high school senior,” said MVNU head coach Steve Gregory of Keller, who was also Elgin’s all-time leading scorer with 1,384 points. "I remember seeing this scrawny little girl knocking down three-pointer after three-pointer. She could also slash to the basket and had an uncanny knack for getting to the free throw line and making her opponents pay. She was a tremendous offensive weapon then and has continued that trademark throughout her collegiate career.”

After being a four-year starter and a three-time All-Ohioan at Elgin, Keller, a native of Prospect, Ohio, moved right into the starting lineup as a freshman at MVNU. In her first collegiate game at the University of Michigan-Dearborn on November 5, 2003, she made an impressive debut by going 12-for-15 from three-point range - both school records - and finishing with 39 points which was just one point shy of the program’s single-game scoring mark of 40 points. Her performance landed her in the December 8th issue of Sports Illustrated in the "Faces in the Crowd” section.

Keller went on to average 14.3 points while starting all 29 games as a freshman for the Lady Cougars. She was also second on the team in assists (75) and steals (53), and she nailed a team-leading 66 three-pointers. She was named to the American Mideast Conference South Division All-Freshmen Team, the AMC South Division Second Team, and the National Christian College Athletic Association East Region Second Team.

As a sophomore, Keller averaged 11.9 points with 73 assists, 51 steals, and 36 three-pointers made as she was second on the team in each of those categories while being one of only two players to start all 27 games. She was named to the AMC South Division Honorable Mention list and the NCCAA East Region Team for her efforts.

Keller’s junior season was a breakout year for her as she set the Lady Cougars’ single-season scoring mark with 507 points as she averaged a team-best 17.5 points while starting all 29 games as MVNU went 15-14 and just missed a trip to the NCCAA national tournament with an 81-79 overtime loss at Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) College in the NCCAA East Region championship game. Keller was second on the team with 75 assists and 75 steals, and she finished with 81 three-pointers made, which was three treys shy of tying the single-season mark. She also became only the fourth junior in school history to top the 1,000-point mark in career scoring. For her efforts, Keller was named to the AMC South Division Second Team, the NCCAA East Region First Team, and the NCCAA All-American Second Team.

Now, as a senior with two games left in her career, Keller is averaging a team-best 17.2 points and has nailed a team-leading 73 three-pointers while starting all 26 games. She is second on the team in assists (72) and steals (72), and she is averaging a career-high 2.9 rebounds.

"Katie’s first collegiate game shows how good of an offensive player she is,” said Gregory, of the record-setting 39-point, 12-trey performance. "She has had many more great games and has continually proven herself as one of the best shooters in our conference year-in and year-out. She is our leading scorer again this season and she commands a lot of attention. Yet, even though she draws one of the opposing team’s best defenders, she has continued to shoot over 40 percent from the three-point line and average over 17 points per game.”

"The scoring record is a nice achievement that has taken four really good seasons to reach,” Gregory added. "It’s a tremendous feat to accomplish. I am proud of how Katie has represented MVNU over the past four seasons. Not only is she a great scorer, but she is a great person as well. She’s easy to miss at 5-foot-6. She has always been very quiet, but she transforms when she hits the basketball floor. This quiet, reserved girl has always packed a punch and is a tough player to defend. If you play her close, then she will blow by you. If you back off, then she will knock down the three-pointer. If you give her any space out to about 30 feet away from the basket, she will make you pay. Some teams have had to learn the lesson the hard way, and Katie has always been willing to ‘educate’ her opponents.”

Keller has played and started in all 111 of the Lady Cougars’ games over the past four seasons as she recently broke the school record for most career games started and most consecutive games started. She holds the MVNU records for three-pointers made (256) and attempted (671) in a career, and she ranks second in career points (1,691) and career field goals made (559) and third in career steals (251) and free throws made (317). For her career, she is averaging 15.2 points, 2.7 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 2.3 three-pointers made per game.

For Keller, the individual achievements are nice and have been a goal that she set out to reach. However, she also has several other memories that she will take with her from her time with the Lady Cougars.

"Sure, the scoring record was something that I set my sights on early on in my career,” said Keller. "I knew that by getting to play a lot early in my career that it might be possible. There are a lot of other memories as well, though. My first game was a very memorable one as well as banking in a game-winning three-pointer to beat Walsh. Our win over Shawnee State during my sophomore year was another highlight as Jenny Slack hit a three-pointer in the final seconds for the win.”

"I have really enjoyed all the strong friendships and memories that I have made with my teammates over the years,” Keller added. "I’ve had a lot of fun traveling to all the games and all the trips that I’ve had the opportunity to take. The lasting memories from all of these things will be something I will never forget.”

Two of Keller’s biggest supporters along the way have been her parents, Kevin and Cheryl. Despite both teaching full-time, Kevin and Cheryl have managed to travel to all 111 of the games that Keller has played in over the past four years in addition to all of the preseason scrimmages. That kind of dedication is not lost on Keller as she closes out her stellar career.

"My parents’ love and support has meant so much to me over the years,” said Keller. "I know that they have sacrificed a lot to be able to make it to all of my games. Even my grandparents made it to all but three games during my career. All of my family has had a huge impact on my career.”

"The experience of being part of a team has really helped me to grow as a person and helped me learn so much about myself inside and out,” Keller added. "Being a part of a team is something that not everyone gets a chance to do, but I have lucky to have been part of one all of my life. I never thought the day would come that this would end, but all the memories to this day will carry with me into the next step in my life. I know that God has a plan for me and I’m excited to see what He has in store for me next.”

"I’m equally proud of Katie’s achievement’s off the basketball court,” said Gregory. "She has grown into a loving and caring teammate who wants the best for her team. She has been a co-captain the past two years and has led us in a team prayer before every game. She will get her degree from MVNU and has also deepened her faith in God while here. I’m far more proud of those things than the wins, losses, and records.”

As Keller wraps up her time at MVNU, she will graduate with a double major in Exercise Studies and Sports Management in May. She plans on going to Emergency Medical Technician school in June with the goal of becoming a paramedic.

"As I look back on all the hard work and dedication I have put into basketball, I don’t regret anything,” said Keller. "I did everything for a reason and it has made me who I am today. Hopefully, I have set an example for others to follow. Even though this is hard for me to say, basketball is not everything. My career had to end sometime. At my last game, tears will be shed for many reasons - not putting on the #10 jersey again and leaving my teammates behind without being able to help them any more. However, there will also be tears of happiness as I prepare to move on with my life and capture my future goals. This is the end of something great that I will cherish forever, but also the start of something else so much greater.”

MVNU is slated to travel to Wilberforce University on Tuesday for an AMC South Division game that will tip off at 5:30 p.m. Then, the Lady Cougars, who are 10-16 overall, will host Ohio Dominican University on Saturday afternoon at 5:30 p.m. in the team’s final game of the season. Keller and senior teammate Miranda Capuano will be honored prior to that game.

Katie Keller's Career Statistics