BUTLERTWP— Throughout her basketball career, Liz Burgard has been known as a role player.

She'll also be remembered as a winning player.

The 5-foot-3 guard started on back-to-back WPIALplayoff teams at Knoch before landing at Butler County Community College to become a two-year starter.

The Pioneers were 30-14 in those two seasons, including 18-6 this year. Before Burgard's arrival, the program was 11-37 in its first three years.

"I'm not surprised we won,"Burgard said. "We had a number of talented players in this group and we meshed well as a team."

Burgard averaged 11.3 points per game this season and leaves the BC3 women's basketball program as its all-time No. 2 scorer with 421 career points. She passed Seneca Valley graduate Julie Wills for the second spot late this season.

Brittany Beatty, a fellow BC3 sophomore, leaves as the Pioneers' all-time top scorer. Another sophomore, Shannon Onderko, leaves as the program's career leader in assists and steals.

"We've got some work to do next year,"BC3 coach Sean Carroll admitted. "I'm going to miss those girls."

Burgard was not the leading scorer during her years at Knoch. That distinction went to current Pitt-Greensburg standout Nicole Reiser. She was not the leading scorer at BC3. That honor belongs to Beatty.

"We're the type of program that's not going to get the star player from most high school programs,"Carroll said. "But Liz Burgard was there for every practice the last two years.

"She could have played at a number of positions for us despite her size. She's a leader, not in a vocal way, but the way she gets after it on the court."

A few weeks ago, Burgard enjoyed the most memorable game of her playing career. She recorded 34 points, five assists and four steals in a victory over CCAC-Allegheny.

She sank 10 3-pointers — in the second half alone.

"I never had a shooting night anywhere close to that,"Burgard said. "The hoop was like a big basket to me that night."

Burgard added 18 points, five rebounds and two assists in the Pioneers' next game against CCAC-Boyce. She sank 16 treys in 28 attempts for the week, earning herself National Junior College Athletic Association Division IIIPlayer of the Week honors.

Burgard will not continue her basketball career at another school next year. She will remain at BC3 to complete the nursing program there.

At that point, she can end her college education and enter the work force as a registered nurse.

"I haven't decided which way to go yet,"Burgard said. "I mean, I would love to go to a four-year school and play basketball again.

"Physically, I believe I can do it. Logistically, I don't know if I can do it."

Burgard's grandfather became ill during her senior year of high school. He eventually died of pancreatic cancer and was able to see her play only one collegiate game.

"I was helping take care of him that year,"she recalled of her senior year at Knoch. "That's what steered me toward nursing. I want to help people."

She's already helped the BC3 women's basketball program.

"Liz will always be part of the class that reversed the direction of our program,"Carroll said.