Get to Know Your Seniors: Andee Velasco 
 
Senior Andee Velasco has led the Lions in assists all season. She holds down the No. 1 spot in LMU record books for All-Time Assists leader, with a career total of 509. The team captain had a season high of 17 points against Portland and eight assists against Pepperdine, while marking her career high in assists with 10 against Cal State Fullerton her sophomore season. 
 
One of Velasco's favorite memories as a Lion is when the team upset BYU her sophomore year. "We have always been the underdogs and it was an amazing feeling to prove to everyone what we were capable of doing," said Velasco. 
 
Since her time at LMU, the Yorba Linda Calif. native is most proud of how she was able to balance being a Division I athlete, while still excelling in the classroom; she is proud to have done it as a Lion. 
 
With the pressure of being a Division I athlete and a student, Velasco also had to overcome the obstacle of dealing with the abruptness and adversity that comes with having an injury. 
 
"Injuries force you to grow because you not only have to choose to stay positive through the healing process, but sometimes you have to fill a different role on the team than before. I have definitely grown as a person because of the times I have been injured," said Velasco. 
 
Overcoming her adversity to injury and continuing to be a team leader, Velasco said her biggest inspiration is her mom. "She has shown me what it looks like to fight with everything you have, while having the faith that God's plans are bigger than anything you could imagine. She is the truest form of selflessness and love," said Velasco. 
 
Velasco spent her four years as a Lion playing alongside her sister, Bianca. 
 
"I am so grateful to have continued to play basketball with my sister in college," said Velasco. "I have been able to grow closer with her over these past four years. We have been through everything together, and to be able to play the sport I love with her has been amazing." 
 
Velasco will graduate with a degree in entrepreneurship and plans to run her own business with her sister and potentially going to graduate school. 
 
"I am going to miss the travel days and away trips the most. Even though they could be long and tiring, I feel like I was able to bond with my teammates during these trips and enjoy the experiences of visiting new places," said Velasco. 
 
"Andee has been in the starting lineup for four years and has left her name in the record books," said head coach Charity Elliott. "Though she has had a challenging time here at LMU due to multiple injuries and family tragedy, she has remained a loyal teammate and the primary leader for this team.  Andee has tremendous basketball IQ and her voice on the floor is going to be extremely tough to replace.  She is bright, steady and determined and I'm excited to see where her path leads. She would be a fantastic coach if she choose that field!"
 
Velasco will be honored with the rest of the team's seniors during Saturday's game against Pacific at 2 p.m. in Gersten Pavilion.