The University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy star has no regrets over her choice of college
CAITLIN Clark is closing in on Pete Maravich’s all-time NCAA Division I college basketball scoring record.
But the Iowa superstar still has a long way to go to match the feats of Grace Beyer, 22, who plays for the little-known University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy.
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Guard Grace Beyer plays for the University Health Sciences and PharmacyCredit: AP
Beyer has scored 3,874 points in college basketball – more than Caitlin Clark’s tally of 3,617Credit: AP
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Beyer says she has no regrets over her choice of collegeCredit: AP
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Beyer said she is honored to be mentioned in the same conversation as ClarkCredit: Getty
Clark, 22, has scored 3,617 points in her college career, putting her 50 away from Pistol Pete’s iconic record of 3,667, which was set during his time at LSU from 1967 to 1970.
They are both well short of Beyer, who has scored an incredible 3,874 points during her time at the NAIA school.
“What she’s doing is just remarkable,” Beyer’s coach Jillian Lipman-Segura told the Associated Press.
“She makes everything look so easy.”
Clark’s feats in surpassing Kelsey Plum’s NCAA women’s scoring record have drawn widespread media attention.
Beyer, though, has quietly become one of the greatest scorers in the history of college basketball, male or female.
After leading Mukwonago High School to the state championship game in Wisconsin, Beyer was scouted by numerous Division I programs.
But she was determined to study pharmacy, which requires a four-year undergraduate degree before at least two more years on a doctorate.
And the offers from Division I schools quickly dried up after learning of Beyer’s academic goals.
“I had a lot of conversations with my parents and they urged me to prepare for the 40 years of my life rather than the four years of college,” Beyer said.
“It’s kind of a big concept to grasp when you’re in high school, but I just knew that I wanted to be happy and have a career in something I’m going to enjoy.
“And basketball? I’ll enjoy that wherever I play.”
Now she plays for a small college in St. Louis with a mascot named Mortarmer McPestle, who wears a white lab coat.
And Beyer’s team travels to every road game by bus, with some journeys taking up to seven hours.
The 5-foot-8 guard has completely transformed the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy program, regularly scoring 40 points or more in games, including a career-high 59.
In total, Beyer has averaged more than 34 points during her final season of college basketball.
She also leads the team in rebounds, steals, and assists.
“There’s sometimes we’ll beat a team but they’ll be like, ‘Oh, Grace didn’t score 30, so it’s a win,'” Beyer said.
“But it’s not a win. You lost.
“So it’s kind of funny how some people’s mindsets are different, not even caring about the outcome of the game.”
Beyer certainly has the talent to become a Division I star, but she has no regrets over her college choice.
“Everyone has those what-if thoughts, you know? What it would have been like if I went to a bigger school,” she said.
What are Caitlin Clark’s State Farm commercials?
“But those are all what-ifs. I’m never going to know how my career would have ended up at a different school.
“I can only know for sure what I have accomplished here, and what I’ve accomplished here is not something that anyone can take away from me.
“I can’t have any regrets when I know what I’ve left behind.”
And she is flattered by the attention she is getting in light of Clark’s scoring feats.
“It’s amazing to be mentioned in the same breath as her,” she said.
