INTRODUCTION: As a first-year, Hannah Lindemuth made a strong impression on women's basketball coaches in the UAA. She was named the Rookie of the Year. She learned to make quick decisions - a task that will help her in the future as a Business major.

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When did you first become involved in basketball?
I first became involved in basketball in first grade. My dad was my coach and we would go to my middle school every Saturday morning to do drills and play games against other girls.  
 
What attracted you to it?
A lot of things attracted me to the game. I loved watching college basketball growing up. Just seeing all the emotion it can bring a person immediately drew me in. I love that feeling a person gets after making a big play. It's my favorite part of the game. I also love the culture of basketball and how it brings you into a huge family. 
 
What adjustments did you have to make to get used to the college game?
The biggest adjustment I had to make was just doing everything faster. From footwork to making decisions, everything had to be done quicker. 
 
When did you develop your outside shooting touch?
I did a lot of form shooting all throughout elementary school. Just shooting one hand right in front of the hoop. Once I got to middle school I started to expand my shot and I think that is when I really developed my outside touch. 
 
You had some very productive games against non-league opponents – 23 points vs. William Smith, 24 vs. Wheaton, 17 vs. RIT. Did that help you as the UAA season arrived?
Those games definitely helped me prepare for the UAA. I was finally able to brush off all the nerves from the first couple games. It also allowed my confidence to grow at the perfect time. 
 
At the WashU-Chicago weekend last year, Coach Scheible had alumni come back to celebrate the Golden Anniversary of women's basketball at UR. Did you have a chance to meet any of the alums and talk with them?
Yes that was a great weekend. I got to talk to a lot of alums and I had some great conversations about what their time was like at UR. Most of the alums stayed for both games and they definitely helped with our energy which led to a sweep that weekend. 
 
Did you tweak your game between the first time you played an opponent and the second time you played them?
Because we play in the UAA we can sometimes play an opponent back to back weekends. I usually watch film of the last game and study things I could have done better. It is usually seeing what the defense is giving me and try to remember that for next game. 
 
What does it take for you to work free for your shot?
I think it is all about timing. You have to read what the defender is giving you and make eye contact with your point guard to get that perfect pass. I love using screens and I have worked a lot on how to use screens in many different ways. 
 
Did you play with any AAU teams while you were at West Allegheny HS? Where did the team play?
Yes, I played with a very competitive AAU team in Pittsburgh. We were apart of the Adidas Gauntlet, so we got to travel pretty far. We went to Dallas, Phoenix and Atlanta multiple years in a row. 
  
When you are home, do you work with any youth programs – coaching, counseling, serving as an official or a timer? What do you like about doing that?
No, but I do love the coaching aspect of the game and want to eventually get involved in coaching. 
 
What led you to the University of Rochester?
The biggest thing I was looking for in a university was a school were I could play high level basketball and get a great education with it. University of Rochester had both of those and once I was able to meet the team and coaching staff, I got to see how dedicated everyone was and I knew that this was where I wanted to be. 
 
Why did you choose Business as your major?
My dad is an accountant and I got to grow up seeing the ins and outs of running a business. Once I got to high school I was able to take many different business classes and I just fell in love with it. I love being able to interact with other people everyday and problem solving to help see small businesses grow. 
 
Are you involved in any campus groups tied to your studies?
I am not involved in any campus groups that are tied to my studies. However I am involved in VSAAC, which I love being able to problem solve with other teams on campus. I also recently finished a leadership experience course, where I was able to learn different leadership types while developing my own. I was able to do some research on how COVID-19 has impacted athletes mental health.