March 9, 2005
FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University juniors Amber Mason/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) and Ashley Mason/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) have been named to the 2005 Division I Independent Women’s Basketball All-Academic Team. The academic team was selected by sports information directors at member institutions. Nominations from each school were accepted for student-athletes who had at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, had reached at least a sophomore athletic standing and were a starter or a key reserve for the team.
Amber Mason, a 5-10 guard/forward, played in 25 games for the Lancers this season, getting the starting nod 24 times. She averaged 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.6 steals, and 2.2 assists per game, while shooting 44.4% from the field and a team-leading 73.9% from the free throw line. Amber Mason scored a season-high 16 points against IPFW (1/8) and tied a career-high for rebounds with 12 against Norfolk State (11/27). She finished the season with three double-doubles. She has a 3.77 GPA while majoring in criminal justice.
Ashley Mason, a 5-10 forward, also played in 25 games for the Lancers, starting 24 of them. She finished the season averaging 12.0 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, while shooting a team-best 54.3% from the field, as well as 72.7% from the charity stripe. She added 39 steals, 36 assists and 14 blocks. Ashley Mason posted a career-high 30 points at IPFW (2/17) and a career-high 15 rebounds at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2/5). She registered three double-doubles, led the team in scoring five times and rebounding four times. Ashley Mason has a 3.54 GPA while majoring in criminal justice. Both Amber and Ashley Mason are the daughters of James Mason and Lisa Mason O’Neal.
The Lancers, under the direction of 22nd year head coach Shirley Duncan finished the 2004-05 campaign and the second year of their four-year reclassification period toward NCAA Division I certification, with a 15-13 overall record.
The Division I independent institutions include Longwood, UC Davis, IPFW, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Savannah State, South Dakota State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas-Pan American and Utah Valley State.
