On February 25, during the UTPA women's basketball team's game against Utah Valley, Ashley Watson came in as a sub with 10:18 left in the first half. Seventeen seconds later, she scored. One minute and 10 seconds after that, she scored again.
 
Watson was a substitute again with 13:28 left in the second half. Within two minutes, she was back on the scoreboard. Watson scored six points in five minutes, and the Broncs defeated the Wolverines 71-70 in overtime that night.
 
“Lately she's kind of been a spark off the bench. For a senior that's been always been a role player, she's really stepped up in the last few games,” said head coach Denny Downing said.
 
Watson started on senior night this past Saturday and ranked second on the team with six points in a 43-14 victory over Houston Baptist.
 
“Ashley has really picked it up. You see that a lot of times in seniors,” Downing said. “The window of opportunity hits them, and I think Ashley has matured to the point that she kind of gets that now.”
 
Watson was born in Los Angeles, California and lived there until after her freshman year in high school, when she moved to Haughton, Louisiana.
 
“My mom wanted to get me out of L.A. for better opportunities,” she said. “It worked out for the better because I got a scholarship twice.  All of my family is still over there. The only people on this side are just me, my mom, and my aunt that lives in Katy.”
 
Watson's interest in basketball began when she was a junior at Haughton High School. Watson had been a hurdler since her sophomore year, but decided to try basketball when she was a junior.
 
Although she mentioned that she never took basketball very seriously in high school because she didn't think she would play a sport in college, Watson was approached by San Jacinto Junior College and was offered a scholarship to play there.
 
She decided to go, and at the beginning of her second year, Downing saw her at a tournament in Dallas. After attending one of her games, Downing took her on a visit at UTPA in November of 2009. Watson signed with UTPA for the following academic year.
 
Although it took her some time to realize and digest how far away UTPA was located from her family, she didn't hesitate to enroll.
 
“I'm so used to being by myself that it didn't really bother me. I've been by myself since '08 when I moved to Houston from Louisiana,” she said. “I feel like I'm on my own. Although my mom helps me, I don't have [any family] down here.”
 
Besides having the opportunity to play basketball, Watson made her decision based on the level of academics that UTPA could offer.
 
According to the UTPA Department of Biology, an average of 64% of UTPA students who applied to medical schools in the five years prior to 2010 were accepted, compared to the state's average of 33% over the same time period.
 
“That's why I committed, because of academics,” she said.
 
Watson is studying biology with minors in chemistry and kinesiology and wants to attend medical school to become an anesthesiologist when she graduates from UTPA in May 2013.
 
UTPA LESSONS
 
According to Watson, living far away from home forces student-athletes to “grow up” and learn about responsibilities that they will face in real life.
 
“You learn how to handle your business as far as being on time for a certain thing, being in class and not missing appointments because you get penalized for that” she said. “[Coach Downing] is really big on our grades and us being in study hall doing what we have to do… taking care of our priorities here, school then basketball.”
 
Downing stressed that developing the student in the athlete is the program's main concern.
 
“It's my job that I make them accountable to be a student and then the next thing I make them accountable for is to be an athlete,” Downing said. “There is zero tolerance on that aspect.”
 
Being on this kind of system, Watson said, taught her to manage her time, set priorities and know the difference between what should be done, and what is not that important. Between school, practice and traveling, she is left with little time to take care of other matters.
 
“The studying I have to do in the time I have… by the time the weekend hits, if I'm not studying, I am sleeping,” she said. “It makes you really value free time.”
 
Watson added that besides studying and playing, she devotes some time to taking care of her dog, which stays at her friend's house along with a bearded dragon and three geckos. She defined herself as an “animal freak,” and since she has worked at a pet shop being a pet-care specialist, she also considers working at a zoo as a viable career.
 
Moreover, Watson understands that having a structured schedule with goals to accomplish is good preparation for when she acquires her degree and is held accountable at a job.
 
“At the end of the day, hard work pays off. It's the same with anything in life,” she said. “Not just benefiting me in the long run of having a degree when I get out of here, but just as far as a life experience. Ultimately, being on this basketball team is like working. Everything that has to do with being on time and getting along… all that pays a role. It's like having a job. It's like every-day life, and it basically prepares you.”
 
STUDENT-ATHLETE RELATIONSHIPS
 
Being away from home takes a toll on Watson's family relationships, and although she says that she misses her family, which is mostly located in California with the exception of her mother, she has developed close relationships that have helped her stay on track.
 
“My family is very, very good support,” she said. “My mom, the fact that I'm so far, it kills her. She's so emotional.”
 
In Edinburg, Watson admitted that her greatest support is her teammates.
 
“My teammates, BT (Bianca Torre), Erin (Lewis), Donna (Jackson)… we are all very close,” she said.
 
However, in the past year, Watson has developed a special relationship with freshman guard Laura Torres, who lets her keep her dog at her house. Watson said that Torres' positive attitude helps her realize that she is lucky for having the opportunity to play Division-I basketball.
 
“She tells me, 'Ashley, why are you complaining… you have nothing to worry about. All you have to do is go to class and play basketball. You know how many people want to do that?,'” she said. “When you sit down and think about it, that is a lot of motivation.  Sometimes it gets overwhelming with the classes and the time that I have, and I get really tired, but there are so many kids that wish they were in [my] shoes. There's only a certain amount of kids that get to have this DI experience.”
 
Torres defines Watson as her mentor because she motivates her to keep going, besides learning from Watson's polite and friendly behavior.
 
“She's a very good friend,” Torres said. “She's a teammate, too… she's always cheering me on, and she always tells me to have confidence in myself. She's like my big sister. She's like my mentor.”
 
For friendships like these, for the chance of soon acquiring a degree, and for the opportunity to grow, Watson said she feel fortunate.
 
“I'm very thankful. I don't show it much because I'm not that emotional, but I'm very thankful,” she concluded.