CLEVELAND, Ohio – Former Cleveland State women's basketball standout Shalonda Winton recently signed a contract with Musel Pikes – a professional basketball team in Luxembourg, Germany – and will begin playing with the team later this month.

“I'm very excited and thankful to be able to continue my basketball career with Musel Pikes, and see what I can do in a professional league,” Winton said. “Everyone involved with the team seems really nice and they have done extremely well lately so I am excited to become a part of their program. They have a lot of freedom in the offense that they run which is similar to what we did at Cleveland State, so it will be something that I am familiar with and hopefully an easy adjustment so that I can contribute right away.”

Musel Pikes, which plays in the Diekirch League, finished the 2012-13 season with a 27-2 record – claiming the Luxembourg Total League championship for the third time in program history. The Diekirch League is compromised of 10 teams – all of which are in the Luxembourg area – and has a playing season that runs from early October to late April. 

Winton, who averaged 22.0 points per game and 10.8 rebounds per game last season with the Vikings, will be joining a strong offensive team at Musel Pikes, as they posted a +13.7 scoring margin and had four players who averaged double-digit points throughout the year.

“There was never any question if Shay would continue to play basketball after college, the question was where she would play and now we know,” Cleveland State head women's basketball coach Kate Peterson Abiad said. “All of the coaches and support staff at CSU are very excited for her. She is embarking on the next phase of her life - the next journey - and I know it is one that she will enjoy. Shay had a remarkable career at Cleveland State and she will now go on to represent our program in the professional basketball ranks. The entire team and staff is very, very proud of her.”

Winton, a two-time Horizon League First Team honoree and 2012-13 Defensive Player of the Year, finished her Cleveland State career last season, re-writing the CSU record book in the process. Winton owns the top mark in career rebounds (1,086), career offensive rebounds (380) and career starts (117), while also ranking in the top-5 in eight other categories.

During the 2012-13 season Winton led the Vikings in all five major statistical categories; points (659), rebounds (323), assists (114), steals (66) and blocks (41), and was one of just three Division I players nationwide to post two triple-doubles. Her 659 points scored last year also marked a CSU single season record.

“I'm certainly going to miss playing in a Viking uniform and all of my teammates and coaches, but I'm very grateful for everything that I was able to learn and accomplish during my time at Cleveland State,” Winton said.

Winton is the first Viking to ink a professional contract since 2010, when Kailey Klein (2006-10) did so following her Cleveland State career.