NORFOLK, Va. – The Lady Monarch’s all-conference junior guard, Ashley Betz-White, will redshirt this season due to bilateral stress fractures in her lower legs, as announced by Old Dominion University women’s basketball head coach, Karen Barefoot on Wednesday.
Barefoot discussed the decision, “We are disappointed that we are losing Ashley this season, but also excited for her return next season. This is an injury that takes time and is a process to heal. There have been a few setbacks, but Ashley continues to work extremely hard. Ashley has been eager to get back on the court for her teammates and the program, but just could not fully recover. As a result, we have made a decision to allow time to run its course, so that she will be back and 100% for next season. We are really looking forward to having Ashley back.”
In 2011-12, Betz-White was named the CAA’s Rookie of the Year, after leading all of the conference’s freshmen in points per game (8.1), assists per game (3.4) and minutes played per contest (31.3). During her first collegiate season, Betz-White was also the only Lady Monarch to start all 32 ballgames.
Last season, the 5’4 guard from Mechanicsburg, Pa. led ODU in assists with 67 and ranked third on the team with 41 steals. In 2012-13, Betz-White started 23 games and appeared in 29 of the 31, helping the Lady Monarchs claim a bid for the WNIT. Betz-White also gets it done off the court, as she was named to the All-CAA Academic Team Honorable Mention just a season ago.
On Wednesday, Betz-White talked about the decision, “I am really bummed that I can’t be out there helping the team this year, but I have been learning a lot on the sidelines. I am really excited to get back and help the team next season. I think this is the best decision to benefit the team and myself in the future.”
Barefoot concluded, “Ashley was a big part of us going to post-season play last year, but next season, she will be returning with a highly ranked recruiting class.”
Old Dominion’s 2014-15 recruiting class is nationally ranked No. 43, which is the highest rank out of all 16 teams in the Conference USA.
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