Stephanie Linder thought that she wanted to get away from Plattsburgh, but after a brief stint across the lake, she made her return. Now in her second season with the Cardinals, she is ready to step into a larger role.
Linder, a junior 5-foot-10-inch guard/forward grew up in Cadyville, New York, a small town located roughly 15 minutes outside of Plattsburgh. Linder comes from a basketball family, which helped her get into basketball at a young age. It was at this young age that Linder discovered basketball was a passion of hers.
“I have been playing since I pretty much could walk,” Linder said. “My dad, my grandfather, my uncles were all coaches.”
After graduating from Saranac High School, Linder decided that she wanted to travel away from home and decided to attend Castleton State College in Vermont. After a year away at Castleton, however, Linder decided that she wanted to return home to continue her college career at Plattsburgh.
This turned out to be a beneficial choice for both her as well as the PSUC women’s basketball team.
Head coach Cheryl Cole displayed her pleasure that Linder decided to take her offer to play for the Cardinals her second time around. Cole recruited her out of high school originally, and when Linder realized she may have made a mistake not choosing Plattsburgh, Cole and the Cardinals welcomed her with open arms.
There was obviously going to be an adjustment period, transitioning from Castleton’s system to PSUC’s, but Cole was confident Linder could adapt as the season went on, and Linder did not disappoint.
“She really came on toward the end of last year,” Cole said. “She can shoot it, she can put it on the floor, she’s got a good head for the game, she’s long and disruptive on the defensive side.”
Linder’s development last year proved that she was ready to step into a larger role for the Cardinals during the 2014-2015 season. So far, through two games, she has proved she belongs in the starting five. Linder has managed to be effective on both offense and defense during the season — she is shooting 45 percent from the field and recorded a steal or a block in both games. With this being said, her production on the court goes beyond just statistics. Her ability to get the team energized and provide a spark on both sides of the court highlight some of these intangibles. Linder’s teammate and friend Devona Paul explained Linder’s value to the team.
“Steph is one of the most passionate players I have met in my entire life,” Paul said. “She is willing and driven to do anything possible to make our team win and be the most successful we can be.”
It is now no secret that Linder has a plethora of ability on the court, but her talents extend beyond Memorial Hall. Outside of basketball Linder’s passions are more on the artsy side.
She enjoys taking photographs and doing hair and makeup for other people, even doing hair for girls before prom. Both on and off the court, Linder’s abilities thrive, and this season may prove to be a special one for both her and the Cards.
Email Bailey Carlin at bailey.carlin@cardinalpointsonline.com.
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