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Badin grad Sunderhaus wins national honor

A leader on and off the court, she secures $1,000 award for Cedar Crest.

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By Rick Cassano, Staff Writer 2:09 AM Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Elizabeth Sunderhaus will be on a national stage Thursday when she accepts the Jostens Trophy in Salem, Va.

The Badin High School graduate and Cedar Crest College junior said she’s humbled by the award, generally regarded as the highest honor in NCAA Division III women’s basketball.

“I’ve come to realize it’s a really big deal,” Sunderhaus said. “I’m honored. It’s very exciting.”

The 6-foot center had a remarkable season for Cedar Crest, an all-girls school located in Allentown, Pa., averaging 19.7 points and 15.6 rebounds per contest as the Falcons went 8-16.

The Jostens Trophy is based on excellence on the court, in the classroom and in the community.

Sunderhaus is involved with numerous campus and community organizations while maintaining a 3.97 grade point average. She’s majoring in genetic engineering, with a concentration in forensic science, and minoring in chemistry.

“I cannot overstate the impact that she has had on our program and on the college as a whole,” Cedar Crest coach Val Donohue said. “She’s a walking testimonial for all that is right about NCAA Division III athletics.”

Sunderhaus, 21, said her three years at Cedar Crest have exceeded her expectations, despite a hectic schedule that doesn’t allow for much free time.

Her favorite organization is the Genetic Engineering Club, which reaches out to Allentown-area kids and teaches them about science.

“A lot of my friends are in some of these clubs with me,” Sunderhaus said. “I know a lot of times other people won’t step up and be a leader, so I step up myself and motivate myself to take a leadership role.”

On the court, she is already second on Cedar Crest’s all-time scoring list with 1,190 points. She’s only 67 behind Leann Wallower, her senior teammate this season.

Sunderhaus shot 49.2 percent from the floor and 82.7 percent from the foul line in 2010-11. She was also 7-of-23 from 3-point range and averaged 2.8 assists, 1.9 blocked shots and 1.4 steals per game.

Sunderhaus is ranked No. 1 in the country in rebounding at the D-III level. She’s tied with Maame Amponsah of Marymount (Va.) for the top spot.

“When I realized I was No. 1 in the nation, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s amazing,’ ” Sunderhaus said. “That was a lot of effort. I am fairly tall, but there’s a lot of games where other people had a couple inches on me. It took a lot of power to get those rebounds when I needed to get them.”

She actually played some point guard this season because Cedar Crest needed ballhandling help. That contributed to 116 turnovers, a number that Sunderhaus said she’ll work hard to decrease next year.

Sunderhaus admitted her academic load is demanding, yet she’s fascinated by a lot of it. “I like being in the labs and studying forensics, seeing how they use the different techniques to obtain evidence to go to court with,” she said. “I’ve always loved detective stories. Seeing the science behind investigations is really interesting to me.”

A Ph.D. is in her plans. She wants to be a college professor and do research in the areas of forensic science and genetic diseases.

Sunderhaus was selected as an Amgen Scholar last summer, spending 10 weeks at the University of Washington conducting research and a final presentation on “The Evolutionary History of Complex Human Diseases.”

“Lizzy’s ability to not just balance her academics, athletics and service, but to excel in all arenas, is a model for student-athletes everywhere,” Cedar Crest Athletic Director Kristin Maile said. “She has shown commitment and made accomplishments that will be hard to match, but that are certainly emblematic of the type of leaders that Cedar Crest College strives to produce.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2194 or rcassano@coxohio.com.

Explaining the Jostens Trophy

The Jostens Trophy is a creation of Jostens Inc. and the Rotary Club of Salem, Va.

The purpose of the award is to honor NCAA Division III student-athletes who demonstrate excellence in the classroom, on the basketball court and in the community. One female and one male receive the award annually. A $1,000 donation will be presented in the name of the winner to his/her institution.

This year’s male winner is Steve Djurickovic of Carthage College.

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