Texas Tech University Athletics
Ashton Uses Experience as Motivation
July 17, 2009 | Women's Basketball
July 17, 2009
By Taylor Wilson, Texas Tech Athletic Media Relations
For many residents of southern Texas, Hurricane Ike had a negative impact of which most from the area are continuing to recover. For freshman Marissa Ashton, the experience was used as motivation and a time to bring her family closer together.
"The hurricane actually made me go harder because a lot of my family was devastated and was impacted by the hurricane," Ashton stated. "It made me play harder, it made me go harder and motivated me more to do what I had to do."
The tropical storm approached the Texas coast on the morning of Sept. 13, 2008. The storm had come ashore before daybreak with 100-mph winds and towering waves, pushing boats ashore, smashing many houses, flooding thousands of homes, knocking out the windows of skyscrapers in the surrounding areas, uprooting trees and cutting electrical power to more than millions of customers for weeks or months. Afterward, an estimated 100,000 homes had been flooded in Texas, and numerous boats washed ashore.
Galveston was declared uninhabitable, and Houston imposed a week-long nighttime curfew due to limited electric power. It has been noted that Hurricane Ike was the third most destructive hurricane to ever make landfall in the United States. As of December that year, 37 people were known to have lost their lives while dozens were still missing.
Fortunately for Ashton and her mother, the two were on their official visit to Texas Tech and were as far away as possible from the storm. Ashton did say that her family took precautions before the storm hit to keep them safe and alive.
"Initially we wanted to get away so everyone would be safe," said the six-foot forward. "We just wanted everyone to be safe and be together as a family."
Staying alert in a critical time, Ashton's family was able to become stronger from the experience and did not let the tragedy tear their family apart, instead it brought the family closer together than they had ever been before.
"It really brought us together because it was an eye-opener for a lot of us," said the newly acquired Lady Raider. "We actually weren't as close together before the storm hit, but when it hit it really brought everybody together."
As far as the Lady Raiders are concerned, there should be no doubt that this freshman will bring her proven off the court leadership and responsibility on the court because not only did the storm bring Ashton's family closer together but it also brought out a side of the young athlete that should be considered a useful asset this season.
"When the storm hit, I took initiative to be more hands-on with my brother and sister," said Ashton, the eldest of the three. "I appreciated them more because anything could have happened."
As she looks back on the tropical storm and its impact on her and her family, Ashton attributed her motivation, inspiration and dedicated work ethic to the adversity she faced during this tough time.
"It taught me to work harder, to keep going and to persevere," Ashton stated. "No matter what obstacles that may be thrown at you, it's possible to overcome everything."
Ashton graduated in May of 2009 from Dickinson High School in Dickinson, Texas. Ashton averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds and three steals a game throughout her career. She was honored as MVP for her district her senior year, selected as a four-time All-District selection as well as a four-time All-Galveston County selection, and led her team to the 2007 State Championship final.
The Lady Raider's success on the court and the life lessons she has gained from this memorable experience should help Ashton provide an important piece to coach Curry's puzzle this upcoming season. Furthermore, it is Ashton's maturity and realization that being together whether as a family, a group of friends or a basketball team that should bode well for the Tech program.
"Anything is possible when you are together. You can do anything when you have support from each other and that's all you really need and that's all we had," stated the hopeful Ashton. "If you have each other, you can do whatever."
