ASHLAND – For many basketball players, making the transition from high school to college can be a challenge. Especially surprising for some is the physical nature of the college game, but Ashland University freshman Renee Stimpert has been preparing for the physicality her whole life, courtesy of her three older brothers.
“Any time of day, we would just go out and play some basketball and it would get pretty intense,” Stimpert said of their farmyard games. “We had bushes behind the hoop and you would get thrown in the bushes often, but it just made you tougher. It kind of prepared me for college basketball.”
Eleven games into her first season on campus, the former Crestview High School standout has shown how prepared she was, as she has emerged as a strong backup guard for the Eagles.
“Renee loves to play basketball. She has brought a joyful enthusiasm to the team with the way she loves to play and the way she connects with her teammates,” coach Robyn Fralick said.
Stimpert is literally connecting with her teammates on the floor. She is leading the team in assists with 3.7 per game while averaging 15.8 minutes per game off the bench. Stimpert is also scoring 4.6 points per game, grabbing 2.8 boards and nabbing 1.1 steals.
“She is a dynamic playmaker that knows how to play at a fast pace. Renee is great at pushing the tempo and creating for her teammates. She has adapted quickly to the college game and is a critical component in our transition game,” Fralick said.
“In high school, I learned that if you push the ball you get easy buckets before the defense gets back, so I just brought that from high school,” Stimpert said. “My teammates always tell me how hard my baseball passes are.”
At Crestview, Stimpert was a prolific scorer. During her four seasons for the Cougars, she scored 2,305 points and once poured in 54 in a single game. She knocked down 72 3-pointers in one season, including 7 in one game. But with six players averaging double figures for the high-scoring Eagles, Stimpert knows her role for now is to distribute the ball, not put the ball in the hoop.
“I like making cool passes,” Stimpert said. “Scoring isn’t my problem. I don’t have to deal with that this year. I can rely on my teammates, and every night someone else is scoring big numbers.”
Not that passing the ball is new to her, either. To complement her huge scoring numbers at Crestview, Stimpert averaged 5.6 assists her senior year. Those numbers along with the rest of her statistics made her one of the most storied players in area basketball history. She earned All-Ohio honors twice, was district player of the year twice, was all-conference all four years and earned Player of the Year honors from Richland Source and other area media.
Although she also earned four letters in volleyball and softball, Stimpert always knew that the hardcourt was where she belonged.
“My family is a big basketball family, and just the competitiveness kind of drew me in,” Stimpert said. “I just love the game.”
Stimpert’s dad, Fred, was an All-Ohioan who still holds records at Crestview for points in a game with 42 and a season with 652.
“He kind of pushed me and taught me everything I know,” Renee said.
Her mom also played basketball at Crestview before playing volleyball at Ashland University. Her oldest sister Kate earned All-Ohio honors three times, averaged a double-double during her storied career and finished as the second leading scorer in Crestview history. Kate also continued her hoops career at Ashland University after graduating from Crestview. That family link to Ashland University played a role in Stimpert landing at the campus.
“Growing up I always came to the games because my sister played here,” Renee said. “Growing up watching it and coming to AU camps, I always wanted to be on this floor, so it’s neat that I’m actually playing for the Eagles today.”
Another huge factor for Stimpert was the recent winning tradition the Lady Eagles have built. AU was the national Division II runner-up in 2011-2012 and won the National Championship in 2012-2013. Last season, the Eagles only lost one regular season game before falling in Regional semifinal.
This season, the Lady Eagles are undefeated at 11-0 and stand atop the Division II poll, the first time in more than three years that the team has held that position.
“Ashland’s a winning program. We’re ranked No. 1. I like to win,” Stimpert said.
And while Stimpert likes that her actual family is close by, she also appreciates the new family she has found.
“The team is so close this year that it feels like a second family,” Stimpert said.
Coverage of Ashland University Eagles athletics is produced in partnership with OhioHealth, the official sports medicine provider for Ashland University and dozens of high schools and universities throughout Ohio.
