Effort plays, maturity leads to starting spot for Purdue freshman Mary Ashley Stevenson
The forward is averaging 10.1 points and 8.8 rebounds during the last four games as the Boilermakers prepare to face Notre Dame on Sunday
After just one game into her college career, Mary Ashley Stevenson moved from a reserve to a member of the starting five.
Talk about a quick adjustment.
The freshman on the Purdue women’s basketball team has made the transition and is unlikely to leave the starting lineup based on performance as long as she’s a Boilermaker.
“When you’re a freshman you have those freshman jitters, but she’s settled in really great,” sixth-year senior center Caitlyn Harper said.
With each game, the 6-foot-2 Stevenson shows progress. It doesn’t happen all at once, but it’s happening, usually one step at a time. Rebounding. Scoring. Moves around the basket. Defense. She’s deliberate with the ball in her hands. She’s expanded her offensive game to the perimeter but don’t get caught up in her 1 of 11 shooting from 3-point range. That will be part of her scoring arsenal before long.
As the season progresses, Stevenson will eventually put those steady improvements and skills together and piece together a monster breakout game that will grab the attention of the Big Ten and beyond.
Photo: Purdue freshman Mary Ashley Stevenson (Dave Wegiel Photography)
“She’s going give you her all every time on the court,” Harper said. “You see that in practice but in the game, she’s a relentless worker. She does a lot of little things that a lot of people don’t see and might not show up on the stat sheet.”
She’s actually doing both.
Through 10 games, ahead of Sunday’s matchup at No. 14 Notre Dame, the New York City native has elevated her play during the last four games, averaging 10.1 points and 8.8 rebounds, including her first double-double.
At this stage, those numbers more than qualify for a spot on the Big Ten’s All-Freshman team but it will take more than a mid-December four-game sample size to earn a spot.
But Stevenson is clearly on the right path.
“She’s a worker,” senior Abbey Ellis said. “She does it all the time in practice. She has tips here and there and she’s already around the ball.”
Since signing with Purdue coach Katie Gearlds, who relentlessly pursued Stevenson as a prized recruit, it’s been a dream to move into the starting lineup.
“When KG shared that information with me, I was so excited,” Stevenson said. “I immediately called my parents, and they were really excited as well.”
The new role came with a different approach. It started with maturity.
Photo: Purdue freshman Mary Ashley Stevenson (Dave Wegiel Photography)
Stevenson’s play isn’t different, but she needed to be ready from the opening tip with energy, toughness, and confidence. She no longer could watch and wait before the first media timeout.
Easing into each game wasn’t an option, both physically and mentally. It’s helped speed up her development, which can only help Purdue the rest of the season as it navigates through the Big Ten.
“I think it sped up my maturity in terms of play,” Stevenson said. “I think I had to switch my mindset that I’m a freshman and I’m just going to figure it out to like, ‘OK, I’m a starter. I need to set the tone; I can’t just watch the younger girls come in and feed off of them.’ I think maturity is that thing that had to change.”
The value of Stevenson goes beyond the numbers on the stat sheet and bleeds into the effort plays, leading to more minutes.
“It’s not always pretty but she plays as hard as she can every single second she’s out there,” Gearlds said. “She’s going to keep getting better and better and more mature out there. It’s pure hustle. That’s what has got her on the floor.”
SUNDAY’S GAME
Purdue (6-4) at No. 14 Notre Dame (7-1)
Time: Noon
TV: ACC Network
Radio: wbpefm.com