The Griffon News

The Western women have had a great start to the 2006-07 season. One addition to this year’s team is Ashleigh Curry.

Curry transferred to Western last year and sat out a semester due to transfer reasons, but she has come in this year and made a positive impact on team chemistry.

When Curry played for Grayson Junior College in Texas her freshman year, she was voted freshman of the year in her conference and had a great season. Curry then had to sit out a semester when she transferred to Western due to athletic rules.

“It was hard to sit and watch,” Curry said. “But still I wanted to support my team.”

Even though it was hard, Curry benefited greatly from sitting out and watching the team play.

“I was not used to sitting on the bench and there was so much for me to contribute, but I learned the team chemistry and the way they play,” Curry said.

The time out has caused Curry to have a great start to the 2007 season. Good bench players are a very important part of any basketball team.

“One of our team’s strengths is our bench play,” said head coach Josh Keister. “Along with Ashleigh, there are several other players who make a difference in the team.”

In the ten games Curry has played this season, she has averaged 16.2 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game. When the Western women played BYU-Hawaii, Curry came off the bench and scored forty points. It was the best scoring game for a single Western player this season and one of the best in recent Griffon history.

“One great thing about Ashleigh is she just wants to play whether she starts or comes off the bench,” Keister said.

It seems obvious that the time she spent on the bench last year has really helped her in the long run. Keister believes Curry is a great addition to a talented team.

“She is very athletic and can score in many different ways,” said Keister. “She also has a personality that fits our team very well.”

Keister believes Curry could be one of the final pieces that get Western over the hump to win a national title. As the season continues, Curry is excited to play and help the team as much as she possible. The hopes are high for the women this year and Curry’s expectations are clear.

“Hopefully we can win a ring and be part of something that has never happened at Western,” said Curry.