She can play defense. She passes the ball well. There’s chemistry with her teammates. Austyn Eng knows her role, and it’s nothing flashy.

But with Braham down by one point against their rivals from Providence Academy this past Saturday, the 5-9 junior guard was thrust into the spotlight. She nailed it.

“It wasn’t a very pretty shot but at least I made it,” Eng said, after
draining the game-winning two-pointer from the left wing for a 46-45 victory at the buzzer. “It was awkward.”

Eng wouldn’t have even been in the game if sophomore sharpshooter Rebekah Dahlman didn't foul out late in the fourth quarter.

It was Eng’s only bucket of the game.

“I’m not really that type of player,” Eng said. “Normally it’s the Dahlmans or Kelsey (Sorenson-Giffrow) making the last shot. I’m not really a shooter at all, so that was pretty fun.”

It was the first game-winning shot of her career. Something she only
really mimicked in practice.

Head coach Tim Malone couldn’t have been happier for her, and lauded Eng’s attitude and work ethic on a highly skilled and experienced basketball team where spots are limited.

“She’s very accepting,” Malone said. “It’s one of those things that
you like to see kids be able to accept their role. Austin might score
four or six points a game at the most.”

There were only two on Saturday, but two she won’t soon forget.