HUNTINGDON — A year ago, Lexey Shick was wondering how effective she could be for the Union girls basketball team.

The 5-foot-4 senior point guard was just cleared to play again after suffering a torn ACL.

After a slow start — in large part because of the balky, surgically repaired knee — Shick finally found her stride and finished her final campaign for the Damsels with 15.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.6 steals per game and reached 1,000 points in her career.

A year later, Shick is making her mark in another uniform.

As a freshman guard for the Juniata College women's basketball team, Shick is coming off the bench and averaging 5.8 points in just 7.8 minutes per game.

“It's actually pretty exciting being a freshman and stepping in and helping the team,” Shick said.

“Actually I am kind of surprised,” Shick added. “I have confidence in myself and I've been really relaxed. If I have an open look, I take it. I'm not rushing anything. I feel like I'm smarter — I know when I have the right shot and I know when I don't and to give it up.”

Shick has seen her playing time increase significantly for the undefeated Eagles.

She only played three minutes in the season opener and then didn't see the floor in the next two games.

In the last three, however, Shick is averaging 15 minutes.

She scored 11 points off the bench Wednesday in a 70-58 win Misericordia that raised Juniata's record to 6-0.

No longer a point guard, but a shooting guard, Shick is relishing her new role.

“I like it because I think I get better opportunities,” Shick said.

And she's made the most of them.

Shick is shooting a scintillating 66.7 percent from the floor and 80 percent from 3-point range.

She's also 7-of-9 from the free throw line.

Shick spent her offseason getting ready for the rigors of college basketball.

That included many forays into the weight room.

“I'm small, but I feel like I've gotten bigger,” Shick said. “You have to get more muscular and be more conditioned. You can't let people push you around.”

No one has pushed Shick around this season and she's pushing herself on the verge of a starting spot.

The fifth spot — a guard — in the lineup has been rotating for the Eagles. Shick is hoping to snag it.

Competition in practice is fierce, however, with five other freshmen on a roster that is heavy with seniors and first-year players.

“It's a big thing; you have to go out in practice and give it your all,” Shick said. “Practice how you play in a game.”

Shick is also hoping to shed the brace around her left knee soon.

Despite wearing it for more than a year, she said she still hasn't got completely comfortable with it.

“There's still days it kind of hurts,” Shick said. “But it feels like I've gotten more speed back. Lifting really helped get it stronger.

“I want to work my way to where I don't need the brace anymore,” she added.

Shick has had the urge to take it off now.

“I feel so much better without it,” Shick said. “I feel quicker and feel like I can make the quick stops like I used to.”

But the fear of injuring the knee again always stops her.

“I don't want that to happen again,” she said.

Especially when her future at Juniata looks so bright.

The Eagles play a big game against Scranton at home Saturday. Scranton is also undefeated.

“Getting off to the fast start we've gotten off to this year is huge,” Shick said. “People are looking at us now. Scranton is kind of our rival and it'll be a big test for us.”