Anderson blossoming at Saint Rose

Ashley Anderson of Portland High is a junior captain for the Knights (10-12)

By Mike Lowe, Portland Press Herald


Karen Haag, the women's basketball coach at the College of Saint Rose, really liked Ashley Anderson when she saw her play at Portland High. But when Anderson visited the school's campus in Albany, N.Y., Haag wasn't sure she had secured a commitment from Anderson.

"She didn't say two words the whole time here," said Haag.

But before Anderson left the campus, she called Haag and said she was coming.

"We were shocked," said Haag. "And we're thrilled. Ashley was a huge get for us."

The 5-foot-11 Anderson, now a junior captain, has blossomed into one of the Knights' most consistent and pivotal performers in a 10-12 season. Finally healthy after fighting shoulder problems in her first two seasons, Anderson is among the top post players in the competitive Northeast-10 Conference, despite giving up considerable size almost every night.

Entering Wednesday night's game at Saint Anselm, Anderson was fourth on the team in scoring (8.4 points per game) while second in rebounds (8.7 per game), assists (50), steals (41) and blocked shots (13). She led the Northeast-10 in offensive rebounds (80, 3.64 per game) and was third in rebounding.

Anderson had a strong freshman year for Saint Rose, when she made the conference all-rookie team, averaging 5.3 points and 6.1 rebounds. But she had a torn labrum in her left shoulder and opted for surgery the August between her freshman and sophomore years. Haag said it was January before Anderson started feeling right again.

"I think she saw the big picture," said Haag. "She's pretty insightful and she understood her time was coming and she just worked her tail off to make sure she was ready. She's one of the hardest-working kids I've ever coached."

Last summer, Anderson pushed herself like never before. After spending a month in Maine, she went to live in the Bronx with a former teammate and spent almost all her time playing, rehabbing and working on her game. She came back stronger and more skilled.

"It was a great experience," she said, of playing on the playgrounds and gyms in the Bronx. "I got in a lot more playing than I would have anywhere else."

One thing that Anderson wants to improve even more is her perimeter game. Because she is often matched against taller opponents, Anderson knows she needs to be able to go outside and hit a jumper.

"She couldn't shoot outside of 15 feet two years ago," said Haag. "Now the other day we were watching her in pregame warm-ups, shooting around the arc (the 3-point line). We saw her hit 9 of 10 from out there."

Anderson said she's not quite ready to take that into a game.

"I can shoot them in practice, but in the game I'm hesitant," she said. "I know that's part of my game I still have to develop."

Anderson hopes to be a teacher someday, at the K-3 level. But before that, she'd like give professional basketball a try overseas. "At least for a couple of years," she said. "Then I'll go to grad school."