National title remains Schrader's goal before she leaves ND

There may be plenty of basketball left in Lindsay Schrader's Notre Dame career, but as that time winds down it's also becoming easier for Schrader to start reflecting.

Academically Schrader, the former Bartlett star who was Illinois' Ms. Basketball in 2005, is a senior. And the Notre Dame roster lists her as a senior. But having missed her sophomore season on the court while recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee, Schrader has another year of eligibility with the Irish.

And while this season still has, Schrader and the Irish hope, many good things to come, the future is also something she's looking forward to.

"Everything's going great," Schrader said this past Sunday, less than 24 hours after she had fired in a career-high 19 points and grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds in a win over Cincinnati. "We're having a good season. We went through about a two-week span where we struggled some but we've come back strong."

Coming back strong is exactly what Schrader has done since that day early in her sophomore season when she injured her ACL. A year of sitting on the bench and studying the game not only helped Schrader with basketball but with life in general.

"That taught me you can never take things for granted," said Schrader, who continues on the educational path of ultimately reaching her goal of becoming a college athletic director. "There's more to life than sports. I grew from that experience and I realized through family and friends that life is too short to be anything but happy. Hard times come and you just have to smile. I think that way now."

On the basketball court, Schrader has continued to become a leader at Notre Dame, just like she was at Bartlett in leading the Hawks to the Class AA state championship game her senior year.

"She's become a much more vocal leader," said Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw. "She has a will to win and the intensity and focus to match. She also has a sense of urgency. She knows with each game her time here is becoming shorter.

After Tuesday night's loss to Pitt, the Irish stood at 16-5 for the season and 5-4 in the Big East (they host DePaul on Sunday). Schrader, who has started all 21 games, is the second leading scorer on the team at 12.1 points per game, and the Irish's leading rebounder at 7.1 per game. The 6-footer, who is a tri-captain of the team, also leads the squad in blocked shots.

"She's our leading rebounder again," McGraw said.

"When we lost (former Fenwick star) Devereaux Peters (to an ACL injury) we talked to the team about how everyone had to step up and Lindsay has stepped up even more. She's done everything we've asked of her. She's improved offensively and defensively. She's become a really good passer and she's really learned how to find people."

But personal statistics aren't what drives Schrader.

I want to win a national championship," she said. "I've never won a championship. Yeah, maybe in AAU, but not on the big stage. I've gotten there but never won it. Something that would really seal my career would be a national championship."

While that is certainly the goal Schrader and the Irish have this year, the reality is that next season may be the one Notre Dame fans should really be looking to. With no seniors on this year's roster, and the expected return of Peters, the 2009-10 Irish could be one of the best teams in the country.

"We know we're all coming back," Schrader said. "We're good now but I can't imagine how great we're going to be when we fix our mistakes. We want to be perfect."

While the season at hand still has a month to go, McGraw also perks up when she thinks about the future.

"We try not to look too much at next year but it's a nice feeling knowing everyone will be back and a year older," she said.

"We still have a lot we want to get done this year, but senior-laden teams are the ones winning national championships and we'll have that next year."

Meanwhile, Schrader does take a minute to reflect on her years at Notre Dame thus far.

"I can't believe I'm a senior," she said. "It's gone by so fast. It seems like I was just in high school."

She also knows she's gotten far more out of her college experience than just the opportunity to play big-time basketball.

"The education I'm going to receive," she said. "I'll be the first member of my family from either side to graduate with a four-year degree and that's quite an accomplishment. I have no regrets coming to Notre Dame. I made an excellent choice."

And the memories that have piled up so far?

"I'll just remember how fast it's gone by," she said.

"I'll also remember how my parents and my grandma have come to every single home game, how ever team has been so different, and my coaches and all the funny moments."

And if things go the way she and Notre Dame hope, the lasting memory once the college days are finally over will be a national championship.

jradtke@dailyherald.com