[media-credit name=’MEGHAN CONLIN/Herald photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]While fellow sophomores Janese Banks, Jolene Anderson and Danielle Ward get most of the publicity, and deservedly so, another classmate has really come into her own in her second season to be a solid contributor on the UW women's basketball team.

Shari' Welton may be averaging just 2.8 points and 2.1 rebounds a game but, it is other areas of the game where she is excelling. The second-year guard from Calumet City, Ill., has made a name for herself on the team as a defensive force, or what you could call the Badgers version of the "Kobe stopper."

"It's good to kind of have a label, I think. Being a young player, we always try to establish an identity within the team," Welton said. "Creating and getting an identity and respect from my teammates as well as my coaches in my defensive capabilities is great."

After playing limited minutes in 22 games last year, she got her chance to start in early December when Banks went out with an injury.

"I was nervous at first, there was a lot of pressure surrounding it, just because Janese had gone down with her injury," Welton said. "It was a really good experience for me and I learned a lot. [Banks] was very vocal and she helped me out a lot, with giving a lot of tips … giving me pointers and things like that, so she was very helpful."

Welton is usually always on the court in crunch time when the team desperately needs a defensive stop and whether she starts or not, it is the end of the game that matters most to her.

"Anybody can start the game but if your coach puts you in the game at the end then you know that they believe in your abilities to contribute to a win for your team," Welton said.

So far she has started eight games this year, which may be a sign of things to come for the 5-foot-11 guard. Next year, as one of five juniors with no seniors on the squad, she may get the opportunity to start full-time.

"It's something that I think about all the time but I know it is going to take a lot of hard work," Welton said. "But if that opportunity ever presents itself, I am very excited to be able to kind of step up into that role. It is something that I have wanted for a while and is a possibility."

Even though she is now back to the bench after Banks' return, Welton can use her experience if she is given another opportunity.

"I just learned what it really takes to win a basketball game and you have to play and complete basketball game," she said. "Being out there for 30-something minutes, I think that helped me to understand that. Last year I tended to get on myself when things weren't going right but I've kind of continued to take more of a positive outlook this year."

Helping her take on that new positive personality has been key advice and guidance from this year's senior class.

"They've taught me the true meaning of leadership," Welton said. "They have been through so much and I have never once really heard them complain. They have always kept the team in mind, regardless of how they felt about anything that was going on and that is the thing that I respect the most about them."

While she may be excited about the possibilities of next year, Wisconsin still has work to do in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament.

With a game against Penn State up first, a team they split with in the regular season, Welton is optimistic about the Badgers chances.

"I'm excited. I think we will do very, very well," she said. "We are a lot more confident this year I think, even than last year, coming into this tournament. [Head coach Lisa Stone] said it is a brand new season. Whatever happened in the regular season is over with and she's very excited. She's telling us we need to be ready at all times and just be pumped and ready to go."

And Welton will be plenty ready to go for the Badgers in any way they need her as long as they come away with victories.

"We want to be there as long as physically possible and winning one or two games for us down there is not enough," she said. "We need to go down there and play hard and work for the Big Ten Championship."