Pendleton Heights graduate Susan Lester on Sunday became just the 20th player in Butler University women’s basketball history to reach 1,000.

The Bulldogs’ senior passed that milestone in a loss to Kentucky. She now has 1,008 points for her career, just 14 points away from No. 18 on the career scoring list and just 23 points away from 17th.

“I did know I was close,” admitted Lester Monday in a telephone interview. “But once we started playing I kind of forgot it. I think it’s a great accomplishment but I wish we could have won the game.”

That sentiment shows the team-oriented goals that her coach Beth Couture appreciates.

“She’s the type of player you like because she’s a coach on the floor,” said Couture. “I have high expectations of her this year as a leader and a scorer.”

Making the switch from PH standout to a force in college has been an adjustment.

“I knew I was going to have to be strong (in college),” said Lester. “There’s always going to be someone at this level who is bigger or stronger or faster and I’m not the fastest player anyway.”

But she has used her talents and her knowledge to make herself a dangerous threat.

“Susan’s hard to guard,” said Couture. “When she’s outside she can shoot the 3s or she make that good pass or she can drive. She’s a combo of a guard and a post player. Other teams can’t put a quick player on her or they won’t be able to handle her inside. Her post offense has really improved.

“She knows the game really well. She can make steals because she knows where the pass is going to go. She knows where she should be on the floor. She anticipates and she uses that for rebounding as well.”

Lester is hopeful that her senior season will be a successful one for the Bulldogs.

“I definitely think we can win the conference,” she said. “We have a lot of talent and we are all playing together.”

Couture offered, “I think in past years we’ve had a post player but no guards or guards and not a post presence. This time I think we’re more balanced.”

Lester is still balancing her school work with her basketball. She is doing student teaching this year at Fox Hill Elementary School and soon at Indianapolis Public School No. 91.