Ashleigh Spencer returns to play for South Adelaide after US college stint

SOUTH Adelaide’s Ashleigh Spencer had no idea what to expect when she received a basketball scholarship to attend Hannibal-LaGrange University in rural Missouri.

SOUTH Adelaide’s Ashleigh Spencer had no idea what to expect when she received a basketball scholarship to attend Hannibal-LaGrange University in rural Missouri.

The town of Hannibal, situated about 160km north of St Louis on the Mississippi River and the boyhood home of author Mark Twain, has a population of just 17,000.

The college plays in division one of the lower-profile National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Spencer, 22, describes leaving friends and family behind to move to the US at 18 as a “big culture shock”.

“I definitely wasn’t used to the small-town feel but I grew to love it,” Spencer says.

“When it came time for me to come home, it was bittersweet because I was leaving something so special.”

Four years on, Spencer, affectionately known as “Splash”, has returned to Adelaide as the university’s all-time leading scorer with 1922 points.

Other highlights of her stint include being named a NAIA All-American in three consecutive seasons, first team All-Conference three times and Freshman of the Year at the end of her debut campaign.

“I worked pretty hard for them (the accolades) and it was nice icing on the cake.”

Spencer, a former Southern Tigers player, is hopeful of winning her first state league championship with the Marion-based Panthers this season.

South sits fifth on the women’s Premier League ladder with a 6-7 record.

“(A title) would be huge.

“I’m just excited about where these guys are going to go from here.

“We’ve got a talented bunch of girls so hopefully we can take it.”

Spencer’s dream is to play in the WNBL or in a senior overseas league.