BY RORI EDDIE
Three years
ago as a graduating senior at Munford High School, no one in the college
basketball community knew the name of Sarah Condra.
Today, the 5’7” junior guard at Christian Brothers University
is recognized as the very best three-point shooter in all of Division
II women’s basketball, as Condra’s name sits atop the NCAA’s
final statistical report in Three-Point Field Goals Made Per Game.
“It’s always exciting to see a kid get rewarded for their effort,”
says CBU women’s basketball head coach Todd Schaefer. “Because
the truth is Sarah Condra is the best three-point shooter in the country
because Sarah Condra is the hardest working shooter in the country.
That “hard work” has begun to pay its dividends, as her 102
made three-pointers during her 26-game 2001-2002 campaign betters her
closest opponent (Diane Dittburner, California State at Bakersfield) by
eight baskets to rank Condra first in Three-Point Field Goals Made Per
Game, while also finishing seventh in the country in Three-Point Field
Goal Percentage (42.1%).
Things were not always that promising for the Millington native’s
collegiate playing career. Condra, failing to be recruited out of Munford
High School, instead accepted an invitation to walk-on to the Lady Buccaneer
program in 1999. She has been making the most of that opportunity since.
Next season, Condra will be acknowledged as a full-scholarship athlete.
“It was never an issue with me, walk-on or not a walk-on,” admits
an extremely modest Condra. “I just love basketball and wanted to
keep playing. Basketball is what I live for, it’s what I do best.”
Her best has only gotten better in her three-year CBU career. Her freshman
season saw the sharpshooter drain 70 three-pointers, breaking the previous
CBU Three-Pointers Made Single Season record. She would follow-up in her
sophomore year to net 69 made three-pointers.
Condra would surpass her own mark with her 102 made three-pointers this
season, and now finds herself the sole owner of the CBU career record
with a combined 241 made treys in her tenure with the Lady Bucs.
She would also lead the Gulf South Conference in Made Three-Pointers en-route
to garnering an All-GSC Second-Team distinction this season. She becomes
only the fifth women’s basketball Lady Buc to earn post-season accolades.
“What’s really impressive about Sarah is she has continued to
get her shots and make her shots, even with everyone in the gym knowing
she was going to take the shot,” explains Schaefer. “It’s
one thing for us to know she is our go-to-go player, it’s another
thing for everyone we play to know she’s our go-to player.”
Despite the intense defensive pressure, Condra still managed to lead the
Lady Bucs in scoring, while also ranking ninth in Gulf South Conference
standings, with 15.6 points per game.
The English major reached double-figures in 20 of her 26 games this season,
including a career-high 33-point outing against Kentucky Wesleyan College
in game one of the CBU season.
“I know I can go off at any time during a game,” Condra says.
“If my first few shots don’t fall, I know my teammates will
pick me up. It’s my responsibility to read my screeners and make
the tight cuts.”
The more you listen to Condra talk, the more you will hear the word “responsibility.”
As captain of a young Lady Buccaneer squad, she knows it will be responsibility
to lead this team in her upcoming senior campaign. “In the past I’ve
been satisfied to lead by example,” Condra admits. “I now know
it is my responsibility to step up and be a better leader—more vocal.”
The CBU women’s basketball team is coming off a disappointing 12-14
season that saw the Lady Bucs finish sixth in the GSC standings with a
5-11 mark in league action.
“I’ll say it again. Basketball is my life, so what I’ve
accomplished is great, but if my team could still be playing and I didn’t
set any records, that would be better,” an adamant Condra maintains.
Because that’s what it’s about to this kid—it’s what
it’s always been about. Sarah Condra just wants to play the game.
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