April 19, 2006

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Wednesday, April 19, 2006) Women's Basketball Head Coach B.J. Smith announced the signing of Ashley Lovelady to a National Letter of Intent for the 2006-07 season. Lovelady is the second signing by Coach Smith for next season and the first signee of this NCAA signing period.

Lovelady hails from Elkhardt, Indiana, and just finished playing two years at Moberly Area Community College in Moberly, Missouri where she helped lead her team to consecutive NJCAA National Tournament appearances.

At Moberly she was one of the top point guards in one of the NJCAA's toughest conferences thanks to the tutelage of Lady Greyhounds head coach Michael Smith. She led the team in assists and ranked amongst the conferences leaders at 5.0 assists per game.

The 5-7 point guard finished second on the team in steals at 2.5 per game. She averaged 7.4 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game and shot 77-percent from the charity stripe.

She was also named Honorable Mention All-Region XVI as she helped her team to their second-straight NJCAA Tournament appearance and a 22-6 record. Her team was ranked No. 2 in the NJCAA Preseason poll after she helped the team to a seventh-place finish at the 2005 NJCAA Tournament.

During the 2004-05 season she led the team in assists at 4.0 per game and steals at 3.0 per game. She also averaged 5.0 points per game and 3.0 rebounds per game. That team finished with two NJCAA All-Americans and a 30-6 record in large part to Lovelady's play.

"She's a great talent," said Coach Smith. "She's a pass-first guard that gets her team involved on the offensive end and is an aggressive defender who hustles on both ends of the court, she's won her team's Hustle Award two-straight seasons."

Lovelady will compete for the starting point guard slot as the Redhawks lost starting guard Wanika Owsley (Indianapolis, IN/Southeastern Illinois CC) and reserve guards Katrisha Dunn (Dallas, TX/Eastern Oklahoma State College) and Tiffanne Ryan (Oklahoma City, OK/Westmoore) due to graduation.

"Losing those three are tough," said Coach Smith. "But with some players returning and now Ashley coming in it should make the transition a lot smoother."

Lovelady was the floor general for a team that led Region XVI in scoring at 73.8 ppg and in defense allowing only 51.8 ppg.

"She played in a system very similar to ours," said Coach Smith. "That's what attracted me to her and after seeing her play in person and meeting her face-to-face I was sold. She's going to have a good two-year Redhawk run with us."

Lovelady played her high school basketball at Elkhardt Memorial High School where she was the team's Most Valuable Player three-straight seasons. She was also a 1st team All-Conference all four seasons of her prep career. She was also named the Chargers Defensive Player of the Year her final three seasons.

Her senior year she led her team to a Sectional Championship averaging 12.3 per game and 3.0 assists per game.

"I'm extremely excited to sign her," said Coach Smith. "I can see her being a fan favorite because of her hustle and the excitement she brings offensively and defensively."

Lovelady joins 2006 NJCAA 3rd-team All-American Missy Whitney, who signed with the Redhawks during the NCAA's Early Signing Period back in November.