This Southern Utah women's basketball player got exactly what she wanted: a drug test

Waking up on Feb. 17, Rebecca Cardenas got a text at 11:18 AM with the news she was hoping to hear.

"Hello Becca," the text read. "You have been randomly selected for drug testing."

Of course, this wasn't the senior point guard's main goal when the season began in November, but she sees the "random" test differently than most athletes would.

Whereas some athletes would get offended at the notion they are cheating the game with banned or illegal substances, Cardenas revels in the idea that she's been so good that someone, somewhere, is thinking she has to be juicing.

"At the beginning of the season, I was like if I don't get drug tested this year, something's wrong," Cardenas said after SUU's 64-50 win over Northern Colorado Thursday night.

Wish granted

She got her wish, and her performance on the court this year says she earned it.

Cardenas, who came to SUU from Burges High School in El Paso, Texas, leads the Big Sky in scoring average at 17.5 points per game. She's topped 20 or more points in seven games so far and has scored 30-plus points twice.

She has a wicked first step on drives, leading to high-percentage shots at the rim and a 42.7 shooting percentage for the season.

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On defense, Cardenas is seemingly always in opposing passing lanes, which is evident by her league-leading 2.8 steals per game average.

When she isn't flexing these statistics, Cardenas is flexing at the in-house cameras around the America First Events Center after tough finishes and significant baskets.

"It probably is random, but all the athletes here are like 'oh it's definitely not random.' Jokingly, but kind of serious," Cardenas said. "I think they just see my guns now. I'm not a little freshman no more."

Cardenas welcomes random drug tests

Not all athletes share Cardenas' sentiment on getting a "random" drug test. San Francisco 49ers star Richard Sherman has been vocal about receiving drug test orders from the NFL.

After playoff wins over the Vikings and Packers, Sherman got his "random" drug test and wasn't too happy. 

"Hahahaha ball out and get the double dip," Sherman tweeted on January 11th. "PED and HGH tests.... hahaha gotta love it."

Cardenas welcomes it, however, a trait indicative of her savvy veteran experience playing in the Big Sky. SUU has been the beneficiary. Originally offered a scholarship by former SUU coach Chris Boettcher, Cardenas stuck with the T-Birds when Boettcher was fired after the 2017-218 season.

Cardenas has become a star

Since coach Tracy Sanders took over, Cardenas has flourished into SUU's do-it-all player who's flirted with triple-doubles at times. Her scoring ability and penchant for making the right pass has been key to the team's entire offense gameplan.

"She's so good at including everyone," SUU junior forward Darri Frandsen said. "It's so fun to play with her."

Cardenas' ultimate goal is to make the Big Sky All-Conference team after getting snubbed from the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference team. So far, she's played her way to at least a spot on the second team.

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Little victories in Cardenas' eyes, like getting that drug test, are small victories along the way.

"Going up in grade, the same people would always get drug tested," Cardenas said. "My pride was a little bit up that day."

Follow Chris Kwiecinski on Twitter @OchoK_. You can contact him at CKwiecinsk@thespectrum.com, or (435) 414-3261.