Leader of the Pack

With just two regular season games remaining in her collegiate career, senior guard Renee Schaul’s primary focus is on the playoffs next week.

“I’m going to do whatever it takes to beat Morehead Thursday,” Schaul said. “And after that I’ll worry about Eastern Kentucky,” Schaul said.

The senior from Park Ridge has made contributions throughout her collegiate career, but this year she serves the Panthers’ leading scorer. Schaul had a game-high 25 points against Southeast Missouri and continues to assume her leadership role for Eastern.

While the senior guard has led the team in scoring as well as on and off the court, last Monday’s game against Tennessee Tech was a low point in the season.

“Against Tech, I only had 9 points and I felt so bad,” Schaul said. “I felt like I let the team down. My dad told me to learn from the Tech game and be fired up against SEMO.”

Schaul was fired up for the road game as she scored a game-high 25 points as the Panthers plastered SEMO by 23 points. Schaul said that kind of support from her father has helped guide her throughout her collegiate experience.

“My dad has always critiqued my game, and he told me to correct the things I didn’t do against Tech to be ready at SEMO,” she said.

Not only does Schaul receive support from her family, but from teammates as well.

“The other seniors have done a great job, and all four of us have bonded in a way that no one else has,” Schaul said. “We all wanted to have a better season than we have so far, but these last few games we’ve really pulled together.”

Schaul, along with Colleen McShane, Portery Scott and Angie Russell have used their senior leadership on the team to help guide the younger players throughout the season.While Schaul may not be the most vocal leader on the team, her hard work and leadership by example has taught the other players what is expected on the court.

“The younger kids have learned from her,” assistant coach Zareth Gray said. “We’ll miss her as a captain.

“We have young kids who can step up and do it, but she’s a leader and we’ll miss that,” she said. “With Renee, she’s not going to be a vocal leader, but she leads by example.

“She’s making sure everyone is at the right place at the right time, especially with all the freshmen this season.”

While Renee has always worked hard on the court, this year’s role as a leader is something she had to adjust to this season.

“My role has changed throughout the years,” Schaul said. “My role now is to be a scorer and fill the holes that are there.”

And the hard work put forth by Schaul this season has led to Eastern’s recent success, winning two of its last three games.

“I think a lot of my teammmates respect me for working hard,” Schaul said. “Good things happen to those who work hard, and the hard work pays off.”

“It’s her hustle – she really is determined,” Gray said. “She doesn’t let one thing get to her. If she misses a shot, she keeps on going and still tries to go hard.

“She’s added the hard work to the team,” she said. “She goes out and does whatever we ask her to do.”