Because of the immense physical, mental and emotional pressurethat comes with playing Division I college sports, a lot of athletesdevelop alter-egos. They become different people on and off theplaying surface. They develop Jekyl and Hyde personalities. Such isthe case with San Diego State women’s basketball forward/guard AnitaBundage.

“On the court, she’s really animated,” said teammate and friendAtim Otii. “She likes to be out there playing the crowd. But off thecourt, she’s the opposite. She’s actually kind of quiet.”

Bundage’s personality was formed when she was younger. Because herparents were always working, she spent a lot of time alone. It wasthen when she developed her laid-back persona.

Then she discovered basketball.

After that, she quickly found a new person. She became moreaggressive. Part of that was because of the game, but part of it wasbecause of the people with which she played.

Bundage grew up in Conroe, Texas, a town just north of Houston. Itwas there where Bundage, her brother and her mostly male cousins hadwars on the basketball court. And it was their rough and tumble playthat hardened Bundage.

“I liked playing against the guys because it makes it easier whenI play against girls,” Bundage said. “Guys are naturally muchquicker, so if we can beat them on the press, it helps us to beatother teams in games.”

Because they didn’t have a lot of money, they had to create theirbasketball goals. In true Naismith-fashion, the kids’ first hoop wasnothing more than an old laundry basket with the bottom cut out. Itlasted until her brother broke it with one of his thunderous dunks.After the laundry basket, Bundage and Co. fashioned their next rimout of a bent metal rod and nailed it to a tree in front of heraunt’s house.

Although she began playing organized ball in the eighth grade, itdidn’t take long for Bundage to shine.

In her three varsity seasons at Oak Ridge High School in Conroe,Bundage literally rewrote the record book. She is the school’sall-time leader in scoring for a career (1,724), season (646) and ina game (40). In addition, she is Oak Ridge’s all-time leader inrebounds for a career (1,039), season (386) and in a game (21).

Last season, as a sophomore, Bundage led the team in rebounding(8.0), despite the fact that she’s only 5-foot-11.

So how is she able to pull down so many boards?

“I think she finds herself in the right place at the right time,”said SDSU coach Barb Smith. “And rebounding is a lot of heart.”

In addition to her prowess off the glass, the rest of Bundage’sstatistics improved from her freshman season. Her games started wentfrom 11 to 34. Her minutes played increased from 18.5 to 31.8 pergame. And all three of her shooting percentages jumped updramatically.

So far this season, she easily leads SDSU in minutes (36.5) and issecond in rebounding (7.2). And even though her field goal percentageis down (currently .315), there is an explanation. Losses of guardshave forced coach Barb Smith to move Bundage outside.

“I think the player in Anita has yet to be fully let out,” Smithsaid. “It’s her first year moving away from the basket and she’slearning quickly.”

Another thing that has not been fully let out is Bundage’s winningmentality. In her two plus seasons as an Aztec, her teams have lostjust under 40 games. While that might not seem like much for some, itis unbelievable for a player like Bundage. After all, in high schoolshe led her teams to three undefeated district championships.

“Every loss hurts a little more,” she said. “I’ll never get usedto losing.”

One thing Bundage didn’t need to get used to was the rough play ofcollege basketball. In fact, she welcomes it.

“She’s the best on out team in taking charges,” Otii said. “Itdoes not matter who is coming.”