CEDARVILLE, Ohio - Remember Brittany Smart? The former Lady Jacket basketball legend and 2007 NAIA National Player of the Year recently guided her professional team in Sweden to a national championship.

Smart, 28, averaged 16.4 points to pace Northland to its first-ever title in the Swedish Damligan playoffs which concluded in April. The 5-foot-9 guard from nearby Springfield supplied 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists during the team's tournament run.

"To have the opportunity to say you won a national title for a country is an honor and I was thankful to be a part of it!" said Brittany. "Women's basketball in Lulea had previously won five silvers so needless to say they were getting anxious and felt it was time to do everything they could to get gold!

"And, they recruited players and put a team together for that specific purpose. My role was to lead the team by creating offense for myself and my teammates, but also defense and rebounding became a priority of mine as well."

Smart was rewarded for her efforts by landing a spot on the five-member All-Swedish Damligan First Team. She was also tabbed the Guard of the Year.

Brittany graduated in 2007 as arguably the best women's basketball player to ever come out of Cedarville University and the numbers prove it. She finished her career as not only the Lady Jackets' all-time leading scorer, but as the top scorer in all of Ohio women's collegiate basketball with 3,236 points.
  The Lady Jackets were 126-16 during her four-year career with two NAIA Division II national runner-up finishes and four conference championships. She's convinced that her experience at CU on and off the court prepared her for life as a professional athlete.

"My education at Cedarville has helped me to keep basketball in perspective," she said. "It's obviously a main priority and takes up a lot of time, however, I understand where my talent comes from and why I play. Though basketball is very important to me, it's not the end of the world if events in basketball don't go my way."

Lady Jacket head coach Kirk Martin expressed his confirmation of what Smart has been able to accomplish. And, more importantly, he noted her commitment to use her talent to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"Britt's coaches and her teammates are so proud of her," Martin declared. "She worked so hard to develop her skills and to see the great success she's having is such a tremendous reward.  She is an example of commitment, dedication and being focused on a goal.

"What we are most proud of through all of Britt's successes is that she has been such a vocal and strong witness for Christ.  She has genuinely used basketball as an outreach for Him. She has been faithful and has always given her success to God."

Smart began her professional career in Belgium before moving on to Sweden. But, only God knows where basketball may take her next, if anywhere.

"I usually go year-by-year as far as my future career goes ... see how my body and mind feel after each season. I do know that I believe this is a great way to end my career here at Sweden and challenge myself in a different way. So, we will trust The Lord to open up opportunities for another contract."