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For Dores, Earley Arrival Is Right On Time 1-7-04 1/7/2004 By Chris Weinman The word “early” is cherished in the airline industry. If your plane can get its passengers to their scheduled destination on time, you are doing well; early arrival is seen as a pleasant surprise. The same has been true this fall in Memorial Gymnasium. The arrival — or more correctly, emergence — of Ashley Earley, a junior on the Vanderbilt women’s basketball team, has been quite a pleasant bonus for the Commodores. The team has soared to its best start (12-1) since the 1995-96 season (14-0), which saw the Commodores reach the NCAA Elite Eight. The play of Earley, a 5-10 guard/forward from Memphis, has been one of the main reasons the team has been able to get off the ground. Coming into the season, expectations may not have been as lofty as the Commodore faithful have grown accustomed to, due in large part to the loss of Chantelle Anderson and Ashley McElhiney and the heavy burden that would be placed on a impressive but young, six-member incoming freshmen class. “We had two seniors last year who graduated,” Earley said. “They contributed a lot in pretty much every category. Coming into this year, we all knew that there was going to be a void there. Somebody, several people were going to have to step up if we were going to do well and win. “And we also have six freshmen. We all, as upperclassmen, just had to step up, play harder and contribute more. I don’t think I’m the only person who has stepped up.” While Earley is not the only Dore excelling this season, her output has taken quite the step up. She has more than doubled her scoring (6.3 in 2002-03 to 14.0 this season) and rebounding (3.4 to 9.0) averages from last year, and is playing 31 minutes per game — second on the team and a full 13 minutes ahead of her average a season ago. From the first game of the year — against South Alabama, Earley had 17 points and 18 rebounds in 41 minutes of an overtime victory — Head Coach Melanie Balcomb has realized and promoted Earley’s development into one of the team’s go-to players. “Ashley is gaining more and more consistency, and really wanting the ball,” Balcomb said. “She is just generally looking more confident out there. “I just think the world of Ashley Earley,” Balcomb continues. “She plays great defense, is aggressive, and has outstanding rebounding abilities.” Earley has scored in double-figures in seven of the first eight contests. She also has led the team in rebounding seven times this season while posting three double-doubles. And while the scoring that gets players noticed is nice, Earley is more concerned about helping her team in any way she can. “I just go out every game and try to give it everything I have,” Earley said. “I look at rebounding as something that is mostly effort. Sometimes, in a game, your shots won’t fall — the ball just won’t go in. But I think I can control something like rebounding.” Earley has not only controlled the boards this season, she has taken over entire tournaments. She was named the Most Valuable Player of the Banknorth Classic in Burlington, Vt., for leading Vanderbilt to a pair of season-opening victories against South Alabama and Vermont. Her teammates have been so excited by her outstanding play this fall, they can’t wait to share. During a press conference which followed Earley’s second double-double of the year, senior guard Hillary Hager interrupted a question-and-answer session with Earley. “This is the Ashley Earley we all know,” Hager said. “This is how she plays. This is who we know and what we’ve been counting on, for her to play like she is right now.” A quick start has given the Commodores a nice tailwind as they begin to make their Southeastern Conference ascent to a cruising altitude of, well, March. And Vanderbilt will be counting on Earley’s production if it hopes for an on-time arrival late in the post-season. |
