Women's Basketball Inks Three
November 10, 2006 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 10, 2006
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- East Carolina University head women's basketball coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener announced today that Shuanda Ashford (Fayetteville, N.C.), Tiahana Bowens (Raleigh, N.C.) and Allison Spivey (Asheboro, N.C.) have each signed National Letters of Intent to join the Lady Pirates for the 2007-08 campaign.
Ashford, a 2006 McDonald's All-American nominee, joins the Lady Pirates from EE Smith High School where she led her team to a 20-9 record and the NCHSAA Sectional Finals as a junior, averaging 12 points and seven rebounds per game. A two sport athlete, Ashford was recently named First-team All-Conference in volleyball earlier this year. The 6-1 forward earned First Team All-Conference honors in the Two Rivers Conference and First-Team All-Cape Fear Region Team honors as a junior. Ashford is the 58th ranked power forward in the nation according to Mike White's All-Star Girls Report.
"Shuanda has her best basketball ahead of her," Baldwin-Tener said. "She has good size and has a great shooting touch for a post player. With her range for three pointers, she could cause some mismatches in the future. She is well coached in high school and we look forward to the addition of her next season."
As a junior, Bowens averaged 17 points, ten rebounds, two blocks, two assists and two steals per game. The 2005-06 Greater Neuse River Conference Player of the Year led Southeast Raleigh to a 22-1 record and the NCHSAA Sectional Finals last season. Bowens also led her AAU basketball squad, Team NC to the Junior Olympics Championships. She is ranked 30th in the nation in the wing/forward position and is the 166th best high school basketball player in the country according to The All-Star Girls Report.
"Tiahana is a great athlete and a very strong player," stated Baldwin-Tener. "She is a power forward that in a couple of years could move to the wing if her perimeter skills continue to improve. She is a warrior on the glass and comes from a great high school program."
Spivey, a 5-10 guard from High Point Central, comes to the Lady Pirates after a successful 2005-06 season where she averaged 18 points, eight rebounds and three steals per game. She earned First-Team All-Region, First-Team All-Metro Conference and Second-Team All-State (4A) honors as a junior. Under head coach Kenny Carter, she led High Point Central to a 19-11 record, winning the Sectional Championships and advancing to the Regional semi-final game. She was a member of Team NC along with fellow signee Tiahana Bowens that won the AAU Junior Olympics.
"Allison is a great shooter that understands the game and blends in well with her teammates," Baldwin-Tener said. "She makes all of the other players on her team around her better players. We welcome her good size at the guard position as well as her excellent shooting range. She plays on one of the best high school programs in the state and knows what it takes to win."
"East Carolina has signed a great recruiting class," Brett McCormick, scouting director of The All-Star Girl's Report said. "All three of their signees should be able to come in and make an impact in Sharon Baldwin-Tener's program. Tiahana Bowens is a phenomenal athlete with a great build that can play either the 3 or 4 positions. Shuanda Ashford is Sharon's kind of player. She is a scorer that can play inside and out. Allison Spivey is a fundamental player that can go left or right and shoot the deep three."
2007-08 East Carolina Women's Basketball Signees:
Name -- Pos. -- Ht. -- Yr. -- Hometown
Shuanda Ashford -- Forward -- 6-1 - Fr. - Fayetteville, N.C.
Tiahana Bowens - Guard/Forward - 6-0 - Fr. - Raleigh, N.C.
Allison Spivey - Guard - 5-10 - Fr. - Asheboro, N.C.
