Four years ago, head coach Brady Sallee's 2005-06 recruiting class sat around its dorm rooms wondering if the team would ever have a winning season. Little did these now seniors know what was in store for their team.

With a pair of second place Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) finishes and Tournament title game appearances in their upperclassmen seasons, Megan Edwards and her classmates have become arguably the most decorated women's basketball recruiting classes to ever walk through Lantz Arena.

The Des Plaines, Ill., native was the all-time leading scorer for the Maine West High School Warriors. However, her role at Eastern was much different. “I do not have to score 30 points for us to win like I did in high school,” says Edwards, who prefers directing traffic and leading the team in assists over having to always be the “Big Shot” player.

Before reaching the 2008 OVC Tournament finals as a junior, Edwards' sophomore year was cut short in the preseason due to a torn ACL in her knee. She chose to pass on a medical redshirt and an additional year of eligibility because it meant more to her to close out her career with the teammates that she began her collegiate experience with.

That is the person Megan has become at Eastern Illinois University. She has filled the thankless job of being selfless. Her success comes from giving others around her the tools to succeed themselves, which is a trait she will carry long into her teaching career.

More with Megan Edwards

Q. What was behind your decision to attend Eastern Illinois?
A. The size of the university, the coaching staff, and the girls I came in with. Also EIU's teaching program.

Q. What do you hope to do with a family consumer sciences degree?
A. I plan on teaching foods or merchandising in a high school.

Q. What has been your most rewarding experience in the Charleston/Mattoon community?
A. The community gives you an expectation to give back. We are not just athletes here; we are also contributing members of the community.

Q. What effect has being a student-athlete had on your personal life?
A. Playing basketball at EIU has made for some of the best experiences of my life and I will never forget my time here.

Q. What rewards you the most on the court?
A. Winning

Q. How would you define your team's chemistry?
A. We all just want to win. We want to make EIU a recognized name in women's basketball, and create a great fan base.

Q. What's your fondest memory in a Panther uniform?
A. Making it to the finals of the OVC tournament the last two seasons.

Q. What has your experience been like as a student at EIU?
A. Eastern has provided me with great memories and even better friends.