Aundra Stovall moves into leadership role for WSU women

Aundra Stovall watched the Wichita State women’s basketball team’s third straight championship season from the bench last season.

The 5-foot-2 point guard from Arlington, Texas, played 6.2 minutes a game and just a single minute in the postseason. But Stovall knew the Alex Harden era was coming to an end and her time would come.

Stovall was handed the starting point guard role this season by necessity, but has gained coach Jody Adams’ trust through her play.

“That’s such a bright spot from where she came from last year to playing the minutes that she does and running the team as a sophomore,” Adams said. “I’m so proud of that young lady.”

Wichita State plays Prairie View A&M at 7 p.m. Friday at Koch Arena in the second game of the Winter Classic. North Carolina A&T plays North Dakota State at 4 p.m. The Shockers will play North Carolina A&T on Saturday.

Stovall is logging the second-most minutes on the team, at 37.3 per game, and averaging 5.6 points and 3.0 assists. Those numbers aren’t gaudy, but Adams says her leadership on a young team has been invaluable.

“She is at a really high level right now with her leadership,” Adams said. “She’s going to learn a lot of things through the sacrifices she’s made and everything she’s given to this team. You’re just so proud of her and you smile because you know that young lady is going to be successful.”

Stovall appreciates the praise, but she knows the team as work to do.

“I feel like I would really be doing my job as a point guard and as a leader on this team if we could come out with a win every time,” Stovall said. “These losses kind of break you down, but as a leader, I have to keep building this team up. I would just be happier (with my play) if we were getting the win.”

Wichita State is 1-7 and off to its worst start in 20 years.

Adams was particularly upset with the team’s latest loss, a 67-62 defeat by Eastern Washington on Tuesday, where she said the effort level of everyone but Stovall was lacking.

Teammates agreed and said they need to start to follow the lead of their point guard.

“We have to be willing to make the change and I think right now we’re being selfish and leaving one person out there to work for this whole team and that was Aundra Stovall,” WSU freshman Rangie Bessard said. “We have to learn how to come together when times get hard and it starts with our effort in practice.”

After the latest loss, Stovall reflected on advice that Harden and Co. left with her during last season.

It’s advice that she is leaning on more than ever.

“When times get hard, they always told us just look to your coaches,” Stovall said. “They’ll guide you in the right direction. We just have to trust them.”

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 7:57 PM with the headline "Aundra Stovall moves into leadership role for WSU women."