As an athlete, breaking a record is a goal that every athlete hopes to achieve. For senior basketball star Izzy Anderson, breaking just one record wasn’t enough.
Over the course of four years, Anderson has become a part of the 1,000 point club, along with breaking the record for the most successful free throw count in history for women’s basketball at Augustana.
Anderson was also nominated for CCIW All-Conference her sophomore and junior year. She has been the CCIW Player of the Week three times and has been named Academic All-District.
Growing up in Rock Island while attending Alleman High School, Izzy decided to come to Augustana to play softball and basketball her freshman year, while majoring in psychology and biology with a minor in biochemistry.
When coming to Augustana, Anderson didn’t just want to choose one sport to pursue.
“Playing softball came more naturally to me, but I wanted a challenge so I continued with basketball in college,” Anderson said.
Anderson’s passion came from playing YMCA basketball and shooting hoops in the driveway with her brothers. Being the youngest of three older brothers, Anderson was the first of her siblings to play basketball at the collegiate level.
Towards the end of her freshman year at Augustana, Anderson started getting more playing time, and by her sophomore year, Anderson was suiting up for varsity regularly.
“By sophomore year, I knew that it was possible to hit 1,000 points by the end of my basketball career,” Anderson said.
Senior teammates Sadie Roberts and Scooter Lopez talked about Anderson on and off the court. Roberts went to high school in East Moline and explained what it was like growing up playing basketball against Anderson.
“Not playing against her was weird [in college], but I feel like all of the seniors on the team have grown together and we push each other harder,” Roberts said.
Point guard Lopez gave insight to how Anderson has changed and stayed the same throughout the years.
“Izzy used to be really independent, but now she focuses more about the entire team as a whole and sets the bar to find new ways to motivate by being a great example for the team,” Lopez said. “Izzy has her priorities straight, is super laid-back and she isn’t afraid of anything. Freshman year, she was very quiet, but over time she opened up more and we saw how sarcastic and funny she was.”
Head coach of the Augustana women’s basketball team Mark Beinborn discussed what it was like recruiting and coaching Anderson.
“Izzy has learned in the last few years to really immerse herself into the team. Her demeanor doesn’t change and once she sees a challenge, she goes and accomplishes it,” Beinborn said. “Whatever she sets her sights on, she will get it done.”
Beinborn has watched Anderson play basketball for the past seven years dating back to when they first started recruiting her as sophomore in high school.
“We let her know we wanted her, but Izzy was going to go where she wanted to go, so we stayed hopeful she would choose Augustana,” Beinborn said.
Over the years Coach Beinborn has gotten to know Anderson’s playing style well and knew she was capable of her high achievements.
“Izzy has always embraced challenges and handled pressure well. She had everything it took to be a 1000 point scorer,” Beinborn said.
As the basketball season comes to a close, Anderson hopes to win the title of Academic All-American. When graduation comes, Anderson will be finished at the Carver Center as she plans to continue her education to become a physician’s assistant.
“I enjoy every game and seeing teammates every day will be something that I am going to miss,” Anderson said.