Lindsay Schrader gave Irish fans a glimpse of the future Wednesday night when she scored five straight points in the second half to give her team a four-point lead.
Schrader hit a jumper and then a 3-pointer to put the West team up 45-41 in the McDonald's All-American High School basketball game at the Joyce Center, a game that the West eventually won 80-64, after a slow, sloppy first half of play.
"I think we were playing more as a team than as individuals, and that helped a lot," Schrader said. "We really played team ball and that's what won us the game."
The high school senior from Bartlett, Ill., finished with nine points on 4-for-7 shooting and also grabbed three rebounds in the game, in which she played 15 minutes.
"It feels good, it feels really, really good," she said. "I wanted to end my high school career with a win and I did."
Schrader, recently named Ms. Basketball in the state of Illinois, showed her future teammates and coaches what she could do at her new home. Irish head coach Muffet McGraw and assistants Jonathan Tsipis and Coquese Washington were in attendance Wednesday night, as were current Irish freshmen Charel Allen and Tulyah Gaines, who will play with the 6-foot guard/forward next season.
"It feels like home already," Schrader said of the Joyce Center.
Schrader, the only player from Illinois on the roster, said the experience was a very positive one.
"It was an amazing experience," Schrader said. "I think I will remember it for a lifetime."
Schrader finished her high school career averaging 22.1 points and 10.3 rebounds while leading Bartlett High School to a second place finish in Class AA. She will enter Notre Dame in the fall, where she intends to major in education in order to become either an athletic director or a high school basketball coach.
Schrader said that the experience playing at the Joyce Center has made her even more anxious to play for the Irish.
Next year, Schrader should play a significant role for Notre Dame. The Irish lose leading scorer Jacqueline Batteast to graduation, and standout freshman Charel Allen is currently out with a torn ACL and MCL in her left knee. Schrader's ability to score should get her some early minutes for the Irish.
Schrader saw her first glimpse of playing for the Irish when the lights were off for pregame introductions.
"I thought it was awesome, because that's how they're going to do it for every home game," she said. "I'm really, really excited to come here in the fall. I can't wait."
However, regardless, Schrader said she will never forget the experiences she's had as a McDonald's All-American.
"I'm going to remember this for a lifetime," Schrader reiterated. "But the best thing about it is that the money goes to charity. And I think that's fantastic."
