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Basketball: BHSU star to play in Sweden
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FarkSPEARFISH — Former Black Hills State standout Lacey Haughian has signed a pro basketball contract in Sweden. Haughian departs today and will arrive in Uppsala, Sweden early Wednesday morning where she will begin practicing with the Uppsala Sallen basketball team in the Swedish professional league.
“I think it is going to be a really great experience,” said Haughian. “I’m going to experience a new culture as well as play basketball at the same time. I couldn’t be more excited. To have the opportunity to go to another country and do what I love couldn’t be better.”
On Monday, teammates, family, and friends held a sending off party at the Donald Young Center in Spearfish where Haughian played four seasons for the Yellow Jackets.
“Lacey is one of the best players to ever come through here, she’s really worked hard, and now she has the opportunity of a lifetime going to Sweden,” said BHSU head coach Mark Nore, “I know she’ll take advantage of the opportunity.”
Haughian was a forward-center for four seasons for the Yellow Jackets, and last season was named as a first team All-American in NAIA.
“She can play wherever on the court. She was our go to player down the stretch last season, and was a huge part of our run last year. Defensively she always got the big rebound, and stop. She always raised her level of play when we needed it.” said Nore.
The 6-foot-1 inch Haughian says she will have to adjust to a different style of play in Sweden.
“I hope to learn a lot over there. It’s a different style of play in Europe, and I hope to be able to adjust to that. Their style of play is more finesse than here, and their players tend to play a little more aggressive.” said Haughian.
Haughian was part of a Yellow Jacket team which last season had a 28-6 record and made it to the Elite 8 of the NAIA national tournament. She holds the BHSU record for career field goal percentage at .579 percent and she scored 1,417 points in her career at Black Hills State, fifth all-time.
“I think she was as good as anyone at the national tournament, and I can’t say enough about the kind of person she is off the court,” Nore said. “She worked hard and got good grades. I think she’s a better person than she is player, and that’s saying a lot.”
Lacey Haughian, second from left, a 2008 graduate of Black Hills State University, is going to play professional basketball in Sweden. Haughian was honored at a sendoff reception on Monday in the Hall of Fame Room at the Young Center. Pictured from left are: Penny Haughian, Lacey's mother; Lacey; Quinn Haughian, Lacey's father; and Mark Nore, BHSU women's basketball head coach. The 6-foot-2 Haughian will be joining the Sallen team in Uppsala, Sweden. (Mike Besso/Lawrence County Journal)
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