Not many can say they are members of the 1,000-career points club at both the high school and collegiate level, but Stephanie (Carpenter) Aldridge can. That distinction helped land Aldridge a spot in the Salem High School Sports Hall of Fame. The 2010 Salem Community High School graduate was a member of four 20-win seasons with the Lady Wildcats basketball program that included three Class 3A regional championships and a pair of Apollo Conference titles.

Aldridge was a steady contributor throughout her Salem career as she finished with 1,008 career points. Her best season came as a senior when she averaged 13.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists a game. It was also during that 2009-10 season when Aldridge established the school season free throw percentage record when she connected on 94 of 116 attempts. That 81 percent mark still stood as the school record at the time of her Hall of Fame induction. Those figures helped Aldridge earn All-State Third Team honors. It also helped her move on to the University of Southern Indiana.

Once again Aldridge put together a four-year stretch that pushed her past the 1,000 career points mark as she tallied 1,003 at USI. Just as she did in high school Aldridge saved her best for her senior season in 2013-14 when she averaged 14.5 points a game and was a Great Lakes Valley Conference Second Team selection. Aldridge was a big-time threat from the perimeter during her college career as she set school threats in career made three-point field goals with 194 (since broken) and attempts with 524.

Aldridge was even more successful in the classroom where she was a four-time All-GLVC Academic Team selection. She also received the GLCC Council of Presidents Academic Excellence Award. After graduation Aldridge remained with the Southern Indiana women’s basketball program for seven more seasons where she served as an assistant coach.
Aldridge has since stepped away from basketball to start her family. She continues to reside in Evansville and serves as an accountant with United Fidelity Bank.