UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State women's basketball head coach Carolyn Kieger announced the addition of All-American shooting guard and Ann Meyers Drysdale Award winner Ashley Owusu to the Lady Lions' 2023-24 roster on Thursday afternoon.
"We are thrilled to add Ashley to our Penn State family," Kieger said. "She is a game-changing player who has excelled at the highest level, especially in the Big Ten Conference. Her skillset is the perfect complement to our roster and style of play. The way she navigates ball screens is the best in the country. She is a no-doubt pro and will have an immediate impact on our team. I am excited both for her, and our entire basketball community."
A veteran of Big Ten Conference competition and one of the most decorated active players in women's basketball, Owusu joins Penn State as a transfer from Virginia Tech with a prior stint at Maryland. The Woodbridge, Virginia, native took home the 2021 Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, the highest honor for a shooting guard in the college game. Owusu was named an Associated Press Third Team All-American in the 2020-21 season, also bringing home All-America laurels according to the United States Basketball Writers Association.
"I chose Penn State because of how welcoming and genuine the coaches and girls were," Owusu expressed. "I wanted to be around people that have the same goals as me, and I know that my teammates and I are going to accomplish big things this season."
An effective scorer and playmaker over the years, Owusu compiled career averages of 14.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game during her time with the Terrapins. While in College Park, the veteran guard secured All-Big Ten accolades in all three seasons, garnering First Team recognition in 2021 in addition to Second Team appearances in 2020 and 2022. She led the Terrapins to a pair of Big Ten Tournament titles in 2020 and 2021, bringing home the prestigious Jim & Kitty Delany Most Outstanding Player Award for her efforts in both postseason runs.
During the 2022-23 season at Virginia Tech, Owusu started the first seven contests of the year before being sidelined by injury. She appeared in 17 games during her senior season with the Hokies, averaging 5.1 points per game while shooting at a 39% clip from the field. Prior to her injury, Owusu tallied a season-best 21 points against Longwood, hitting a career-high quartet of 3-point baskets.
Owusu carved out a reputation for herself as one of the premier recruits in America during the 2019 cycle, ranking as the No. 5 player in the nation according to both Blue Star and ESPN while landing the No. 1 ranking among all point guards. She was named a McDonald's All-American and earned an invite to the Jordan Brand Classic, additionally garnering recognition as Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Virginia.
Owusu joins a talented Lady Lion backcourt that features a pair of returning All-Big Ten guards in Makenna Marisa and Leilani Kapinus. Marisa landed All-Big Ten First Team recognition according to the league's media members and placed on the All-Big Ten Second Team per the conference's coaches. Kapinus was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention athlete a year ago and was selected to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team in 2022-23. PSU improved its win total from the prior season for the fourth-straight year and secured its first postseason victory since 2018 after downing Minnesota in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament.
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