This is the ninth in a series of interviews with Morgan State senior student-athletes to celebrate their accomplishments and honor their service and dedication with a Senior Spotlight.
The NCAA canceled all winter and spring sports for the remainder of the academic calendar year. In response to the cancellation of the annual athletics banquet, this would give our senior student-athletes a sense of accomplishment and closure.
The ninth student-athlete is senior guard Chelsea Mitchell. A native of Columbia, Md., Chelsea was a three-year member on the Lady Bears. Mitchell, who graduated in December 2019 with a degree in business administration, spent her first two seasons at Morgan State before transferring. After a year away, she returned to the "National Treasure" and sat out the 2018-19 season to fulfill NCAA transfer requirements.
Mitchell returned to the court this past season for her senior campaign, and led the Lady Bears to a 17-13 overall mark and 12-4 in the MEAC to finish the regular season tied for second in the league standings. In what would be her final game in a Morgan State uniform, she grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, totaled 18 points and added a steal and an assist in the MEAC quarterfinal win over Delaware State. The win sent Morgan to its first MEAC semifinal appearance since 2007.
However, due to the current climate surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Delaware State game would not only be the final contest of the tournament, but the final NCAA Division I college basketball game played for the 2019-20 season.
Lady Bears🐻🏀 2019-20 End of Season Notes📝
Read🆙👉https://t.co/sqJcdriWTm#TheMorganWay #MEAC #ThreeStripeLife#GoBears🔷🔶 pic.twitter.com/DUVW0rUVxS
— Morgan State Bears (@MorganStBears) March 26, 2020
Mitchell concluded her senior season averaging a team-leading 15.6 points, a team-high 9.7 rebounds, and totaled a team-best 105 steals, while starting all 30 games. Mitchell garnered All-MEAC First Team accolades after receiving four MEAC Co-Player of the Week selections, one MEAC Player of the Week honor and two MEAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week awards. She became just the second Lady Bear in program history to be named to the BOXTOROW Division I HBCU All-American First Team.
🐻🏀Chelsea Mitchell Named First-Team @boxtorow All-American✨👏
Read🆙👉https://t.co/rr3T42UEX8#TheMorganWay #MEAC#GoBears🔷🔶 pic.twitter.com/eL7FT77yLY
— Morgan State Bears (@MorganStBears) March 31, 2020
The 5-foot-9 guard led the MEAC in both rebounding (4.9) and offensive rebounding per game at 4.9, was second in scoring (15.6), second in steals (3.5), third in field goal percentage (.505), fifth in defensive rebounding (4.9) and 14th in free throw percentage (.655). She posted a MEAC leading 14 double-doubles and reached double figures in scoring 26 times, including a career-high 26 points at Howard (2/1). She also grabbed a career-best 17 rebounds against Delaware State (2/24) and was the top rebounder amongst all players at the eight NCAA Division 1 schools in the State of Maryland after averaging 9.7 boards a game.
Mitchell ranked third in the nation in offensive rebounding (146), sixth nationally in total steals (105) and seventh in steals per game (3.50). She ended her career ranked eighth on the steals chart at Morgan State with 184.
#MORGvsNORF #MEAC #SeniorNight#GoBears🔷🔶 pic.twitter.com/xpNOb3iWH6
— Morgan State Bears (@MorganStBears) March 6, 2020
"Chelsea Mitchell represented the true character in endurance and student-athlete that every coach in America wants to have. And that's basically predicated upon her willingness not give up and to fight through the battle to the end," said Morgan State head basketball coach Ed Davis Jr. "I know because of that we won a lot of games because of that attitude. I am hoping that it's an attitude that will rub off on the returning kids and something that I know she'll build on as she continues throughout her career in basketball."
#MORGvsNORF #MEAC #SeniorNight#GoBears 🔷🔶 pic.twitter.com/la6FPReT4o
— Morgan State Bears (@MorganStBears) March 5, 2020
Mitchell discussed her time academically and athletically at Morgan State.
Questions are in bold, and are followed by Mitchell's responses.
Q: What was the rollercoaster emotion of defeating Delaware State to advance to the MEAC semifinals, then being told the tournament and your senior season was being cut short due to the coronavirus?
A: I would compare it to getting a big piece of candy when you were little and then someone taking it from you saying you can't really eat it. We had made it through so much as a team and that was the exciting part about coming together to win that game, but then having it being snatched away was so devastating.
Q: How did you first find out that the spring semester would end as we traditionally know it due to the coronavirus? And what was your reaction?
A: I was shocked for the girls to have to continue the rest of the semester online, with some not having that much experience with online courses. I know it was tough for seniors to finish out like that (Dawn Hiyah and Dezyree), but it was necessary to keep everyone safe and healthy.
Ashia McCalla scored 11 of her 13 points in the first half, and Chelsea Mitchell chipped in 12 of her game-high 17 points in the second to power @MorganStBears to its eighth win in its last 10 games.
"We've got a lot of options," coach Ed Davis Jr. said.https://t.co/8PDlPbPhj4
— Edward Lee☀️ (@EdwardLeeSun) February 25, 2020
Q: While you at least got to complete the regular season, what are some memorable highlight(s), accomplishments from the season?
A: Some memorable highlights for me this season wouldn't be what I accomplished individually. The greatest accomplishments in my eyes were every time each individual brought something different to the table. It wasn't about me or any other specific player, it was about us and what we did this season...working together and what we achieved was my greatest accomplishment. I just wish we could have made history as planned.
Q: The team was picked to finish 7th and you finished tied for 2nd. How would you describe this season and how should this team be remembered?
A: This season was exactly what I expected. Brand new team coming together having to build chemistry as we go and finding that common ground. This team made history in my eyes and we weren't even finished yet. We were relentless.
Q: When you decided to return to Morgan for your senior season, did you ever dream that you would have the type of year you had (team and individual success)?
A: My purpose of coming to Morgan was to make history and coming back I had a goal of finishing what I started. I had my eyes set on something and was hungry for it. I knew exactly what would happen.
Q: When you reflect on the honor of becoming just the second player in program history to be named an All-American from BOXTOROW, what does it mean to you?
A: It means a great deal to me to be honored with that type of award.
Q: What was your time at Morgan State like both athletically and academically?
A: My time at Morgan State was a rollercoaster on both sides, academically and athletically. I had to restructure my goals with my hustle and my focus, but that's the journey of growth.
#MORGvsDSU #MEAC#GoBears🔷🔶 pic.twitter.com/7CX0GjQ7KZ
— Morgan State Bears (@MorganStBears) February 25, 2020
Q: As a departing senior, how would you like to be remembered?
A: I would like to be remembered as someone who always hustled and worked for what they wanted… a go-getter regardless of the circumstances.
Q: How do you feel the coronavirus will affect the team heading into the 2020-21 season?
A: Praying that they are not affected a huge amount, but it will do some damage. They are dogs though, they will get through it.
Q: What are your thoughts regarding the University's response to the coronavirus?
A: I think they did a great job taking early action in closing things, and even keeping students updated as the process continues. They have kept everyone in the loop.
Q: How has your family been impacted? And thoughts regarding the limited travel on airlines etc.?
A: Just limited leaving the house for three months and just trying to enjoy each other's company and be outside. Limited air travel is great for people's health and safety, as far as the economy goes, not so great. But I would rather protect lives than worry about the money aspect of things.
Q: How was your online/virtual learning experience for the spring? Any advantages or challenges?
A: I was not impacted as much as others with the online/virtual learning. My masters program is all online and I had previously taking all online classes, so I was used to having classes online.
Q: What's your message for fellow Morganites while they're away from campus during this pandemic?
A: My message to fellow Morganites during this time would be to keep taking care of yourselves. Take time to step outside of the norm, educate yourself on new things and embrace the change we are all going through. Check on your friends/family and spread love.
Q: Having graduated in December, what was it like playing the second semester as a grad student? What were the differences with your time and schedule from being in undergrad?
A: It was very different. The workload in the graduate program is a lot more dense than undergrad. It took me some time getting used to, but it all worked out. Time management and focus played a huge role in my first semester in the graduate program.
#MORGvsMDES #MEAC pic.twitter.com/RRU22H6nB9
— Morgan State Bears (@MorganStBears) February 8, 2020
Q: What are some of the things you will miss about Morgan?
A: The atmosphere and togetherness of the student body.
Q: What's next for Chelsea Mitchell (future/career plans)?
A: My future plans are to continue to the finish line of receiving my Masters degree, while also chasing my dreams as a professional basketball player.
Previous Senior Spotlights
Roi Wallace
Stanley Davis
Diamond Hunter
DeAndre Harris
Dezyree Morales
Malachi Washington
Cheer Bears
Jihayah Chavis
Chelsea Mitchell
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Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 126 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's
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