More than 2,000 reasons for Lauren Lister to look back fondly at Millersville career

By Jason Guarente — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent

MILLERSVILLE — Even as the milestone came into view, Lauren Lister didn’t waste any energy crunching the numbers. She didn’t want to know how close she was to 2,000. She can’t play that way.

It was only this week, sitting at 1,997, that she could no longer avoid the information. That made Lister anxious. Millersville’s 5-8 guard can score three points in her sleep but these three points were suddenly harder than the rest.

“I was definitely very jittery,” Lister said. “It took 5-8 minutes to get the nerves out.”

An entire quarter went by with Lister still scoreless. The second quarter is when she broke through. An off-balanced shot banked home and the Fleetwood grad officially secured her place in history.

Lister scored 12 points in Millersville’s 73-53 loss to West Chester at Pucillo Gym Wednesday night. The fifth-year senior is sitting at 2,009 with at least one more game remaining.

A painted ball was already crafted to commemorate the occasion. Someday soon it’ll rest alongside the keepsakes Lister owns from her 1,000th point here and in high school. The scoring never stopped wherever she went.

“They’re very meaningful to me,” Lister said. “They‘re actually encased at my house right now. For me in the future, I’ll be able to look back and know what I accomplished.”

The final two baskets to reach 2,000 were the kind Lister has so often scored. The kind that made her such a headache for defenders.

One might expect a player who piled up points so effortlessly to make her living behind the 3-point arc. Not Lister. Her living was made near the rim. She took high-percentage shots. Acrobatic shots. 

Twice Lister attempted a 3-pointer that could have placed her at exactly 2,000. Both shots bounced off the rim. It was as if the universe was telling her that’s not how it’s supposed to happen. That’s not the best part of her game. 

The hoop that lifted her total to 1,999 was a baseline drive where she went around a defender and had no lane to shoot. Lister flipped home a reverse layup. Now she only needed one.

That came on another difficult shot. She cut across the paint for a pass, got hammered after catching the ball and somehow still finished. Her teammates rushed over to pick her up. 

Lister has lived on this Lancaster County campus since 2017. One more year and she’ll have her Master’s degree.

“I like it at Millersville,” she said. “I love my teammates. Even though I have new coaches, I love them. This is where I made my meaningful moments and memories I’ll never forget.”

Lister has been Millersville’s all-time leading scorer for two years. She surpassed Sara Burcin at 1,543 shortly before her junior season ended. After last season was canceled because of COVID-19, she started adding to her total in November. She lifted the record to a height that will be difficult to reach.

It’s hard to wrap one’s mind around 2,000 points. It’s 738 field goals and 493 free throws in this case. It’s Ralph “Doc” Anttonen, the public address voice of Millersville hoops, saying “Lister for 2” over and over again.

“It’s definitely crazy for me,” Lister said. “I don’t think I’ve fully accepted that I hit that yet. I’ve hit a huge milestone. Not a lot of people accomplish it. I should be very proud of myself.”

They don’t stop the game for sentimental moments in college. Many in the crowd knew when 2,000 arrived anyway. Some of the students parked near midcourt cheered a little louder for this layup than the rest. There was a poster celebrating Lister propped up like a fan in the bleachers.

Teammates brought their own homemade signs. One black with 2,000 written on it. The other gold with “Congrats, Lo!” In big letters. Those are Millersville’s colors. A reminder that all of Lister’s college excellence happened in one place.

It was only after the next dead ball that the arena paused and Lister was acknowledged. A long list of numbers were announced. Not many players breathe the rarefied air of 2,000. Only 17 in the PSAC. Only nine active in Division II. Only 20 active in all of NCAA.

Lister stood on the gold ‘Ville’ as everyone cheered one more time. She has turned this 90-foot section of hardwood into her sacred spot. One day her name will be on the Hall of Fame wall that glows outside the gym’s doors.

There’s one more game against Lock Haven. Then, unless Millersville qualifies for the league playoffs, that’ll be a wrap on a special Berks career.

“This week has been really hard knowing my last game could possibly be Saturday,” Lister said. “It’s been really tough on me. At the same time I’m pushing through. I know I’ve got a great legacy here at Millersville. I just have to finish it off.”

Those painted basketballs aren’t the only reminders of what Lister has achieved. There’s also Millersville’s record book. Her name is listed above the rest.