Galloway pays final visit to area

Jenna Galloway is coasting now, taking just enough credits to be eligible to finish up her senior season of basketball for Northern Arizona. That gives the communications major from Ferris, who could have graduated in December, plenty of time to reflect. The most pressing subject is the Lumberjacks’ visit to Eastern Washington on Thursday. “I think it’s going to be really exciting,” the 5-foot-11 wing said. “I have never won there. This is the last chance. It means a lot that family, friends, teachers, old coaches come watch. There is going to be some sadness, I’ll never play in front of those people again. Still, it will be really cool to see those people come out. I think I’m going to look at it in a positive way that so many people care about me.” She is one of the members from the local Class of 2007 that saw seven players from the Greater Spokane League receive Division I basketball scholarships. Galloway was in the top 10 in scoring and a second-team All-Greater Spokane League pick as a senior. “It really is incredible if you think about it,” she said. “There was so much talent that year. … And seeing how their careers developed and the people they have become, it really is cool. I guess I’m just proud of our class. “We represented Spokane pretty well, where we’ve gone to play and how we’ve carried ourselves.” Galloway has had an up-and-down career, starting more often than not with a career-high 7.3 points a game as a freshman when she had 17 starts. As a junior, she was second on the team in rebounds with 4.3 a game. “There’s been a lot of learning,” she said. “College sports aren’t necessarily as glamorous as people make them out to be. There is a lot of work, a lot of tears, a lot of joys. For the most part it’s been very positive for me. “The school is great, I love the university, I love the town. I’ve met some of my best friends here. I finally figured out what I wanted to do.” Galloway, an academic all-league pick throughout her career, started in business but found a passion for broadcasting with a minor in journalism, writing for the school newspaper. “My dream job would be doing sideline reporting for ESPN,” she said. “If that dream doesn’t work out I would be completely content doing sports for a news station or writing.” Though she attends the Big Sky school furthest from home, it was the right choice for her. “Basketball has been a good experience,” she said, traveling from Florida to Hawaii. “It’s been fun. Looking back it’s definitely the right place for me. It’s kind of sad it’s ending but it’s been a great experience for me.”