By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Her senior season with the Bridgewater State University women's basketball team came to an end only four minutes after it began.

Captain Chanelle Melton of Brockton tore the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in her left knee not long after the 2016-17 season opener against Hamilton College started at the Williams College Classic 15 months ago.

She stole the ball and tried to stay inbounds, but the knee twisted, and Melton suffered the first major injury of her basketball career.

"Before, it would always be small sprained ankles and I'd be out for like two or three days max,″ said Melton. "This was the biggest injury I ever had in my life. Not to be dramatic, but it was kind of traumatizing to me.″

The injury occurred on Nov. 19, 2016 and Melton underwent surgery in December, leaving her on the bench watching the Bears struggle through a 12-15 season.

The 2013 Brockton High School graduate did not want that to be her final basketball memory, however.

So she decided to return to Bridgewater State as a fifth-year senior in the 2017-18 academic year, receiving a medical red-shirt to use a final season of basketball eligibility.

And now, Melton is on the verge of being rewarded for her perseverance.

Melton enters Wednesday's regular-season home finale against Worcester State on Senior Night with 993 career points, putting her on target to become the 19th BSU women's player to reach 1,000 points.

After going through intense rehabilitation, then struggling in the early part of this season while getting comfortable again, Melton is finishing her career on a positive note, helping the Bears win five of their past six games.

"She's had some ups and downs, but she's going to end her career on an up,″ said coach Bridgett Casey. "To be seven points away from being up there on the banner with some of my all-time greats that I've coached is amazing. I'm really happy for her.″

Melton, who also has 485 career rebounds, said she made the decision last February to return for another season.

She will graduate this spring with a degree in finance and is taking courses for an economics minor.

"I'm so happy I came back,″ said Melton, who is averaging 10.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in 23.4 minutes. "I think it was a great decision. You're never going to have these years in your life again, so you might as well do it now.

"And there was unfinished business, definitely. I had to come back. I want to win a MASCAC championship. If I come back, we need to win it and we have an opportunity to win it. I was not going out like that.″

Melton, a second-team all-conference pick as a junior when she averaged 13.4 points and 5.7 rebounds, dealt with plenty of frustration last winter.

She was poised to build on that solid junior year and lead the Bears as the captain, but the early-season injured stopped that plan in a hurry.

"Last year was super frustrating, but also super mentally tough,″ said Melton. "I loved seeing my teammates play and grow, but at the same time I wanted to be on the court as quick as possible.

"Sitting out, it was a love and a hate relationship. I hated it because I was sitting out and I wanted to be able to graduate and play and get the MASCAC championship last year. But I loved it because I learned so much sitting out and watching my teammates play.

"I definitely appreciate the game more.″

Melton had to take it slow when training camp opened in October, and she came off the bench playing limited minutes for six games before getting back in the starting lineup.

"I didn't feel like myself,″ she said. "I was worrying about my knee and this brace. It's so bulky. I didn't feel normal running. I was conscious about getting hit as a post player. It took my half a season just to get back in my rhythm of playing. It's really just a mental thing.

"I do feel like I'm pretty much back. I get lazy sometimes and still do think about my knee, but I think about it way less than in the beginning of the season. Now I'm ready. I'm all in. I feel way better than the beginning of the season.″

Melton, who was recently named the MASCAC player of the week, has led the way as the Bears have climbed the conference standings.

And now, on Senior Night at the Tinsley Center on Wednesday, she can hit a career milestone.

"I just hope I get in on Wednesday because to do it here would be great,″ said Melton. "It would be very memorable for me, especially to do it on Senior Night. I want to be able to help my teammates, and this game is really important for us for seeding in the MASCAC.

"It was a long process (coming back). It took me a half-season to get it fully back and get confident, but overcoming all those adversities and adapting to this team and coming back, it's been rewarding.″