Langford Sets Single-Season Assist Record :: Ashley Langford sits down for a Q & A in This Week's Langford Log

Feb. 21, 2007

NEW ORLEANS - Tulane sophomore guard Ashley Langford broke the school record for assists in a season for the second straight year, using an eight-assist effort Saturday to give her 172 for the season (with at least three games remaining).

Last season, Langford dished out 171 helpers in 27 games. In her 27th game this season, she reached 172. The previous record was held by Susan Owens with 139 in the 1982-83 season.

Just a sophomore, Langford can enter the top 10 in assists at Tulane with two more helpers. She sits at 343 for her career, two back of Kelly Nadeau (2000-04) and Grace Daley (1996-2000). Owens is the Wave's all-time assist leader with 429.

Langford sat down for a Q & A with TulaneGreenWave.com in this week's Langford Log.

TulaneGreenWave.com: Was breaking your own single-season assist record from last year a goal for you entering this season?
Ashley Langford: It's always a goal of mine to perform better each season so you could say that breaking the record was a goal. Although my main goal was to help the team become better than it was last year.

TulaneGreenWave.com: Which record is more rewarding, breaking the single season mark last year as a freshman... or breaking it again this year on a 22-5 team?
Ashley Langford: I think that they are both special. Last year meant a lot to me because I was young, straight out of high school and performing so well at a higher level.

TulaneGreenWave.com: You also own nine of the top 12 single-game assist marks. Are you looking for 10 or more assists every time you step on the floor?
Ashley Langford: I would love to have ten or more assists every game, but I don't look for exactly 10. I just play and pass the ball to my teammates when they are open or put them in position to score. I let the game come to me.

TulaneGreenWave.com: Coach Stockton says that you don't just pass to a teammate, you pass for a shot. What is the difference between making a pass and passing for a shot?
Ashley Langford: Passing for a shot allows my teammates to just simply shoot the ball. I break down the defense and set them up for a shot. My teammates are diverse so I have to look at the personnel on the floor and decide which pass and where to pass to certain players. I try to give them the ball where their hands are, so they remain happy!

TulaneGreenWave.com: What advice would you give young players on the art of passing?
Ashley Langford: In order to be a great passer, I would say that most of it is innate but you can always practice on your passing and watch film to see what is open on the court. Vision is the most important part of passing, which means that ball handling is vital so that you can see the whole court while dribbling.

TulaneGreenWave.com: Talk about having two potential 1,000 career-point scorers on the team with you. (Jami Montagnino reached 1,000 this year, and D'Aundra Henry is at 976 entering the weekend).
Ashley Langford: Playing with Jami and D'Aundra is a treat because they can score very well. Jami is a pure shooter so many of my assists are from her and junior guard Nikki Luckhurst knocking down threes and jumpers. D'Aundra is a slasher that can also hit the jumper, so with my teammates, the assists rack up!

TulaneGreenWave.com: What's more fun, dishing out an assist on a sweet pass, or knocking down a jumper?
Ashley Langford: It depends on what the team needs at the time. If we need a jumper then it's just as good as making a great pass. But honestly, I love distributing the ball and making the crowd go "How'd she see that" or "Ohhh!"

TulaneGreenWave.com: What about rebounding? How did it feel winning DoubleTree Classic MVP honors after getting 10 rebounds against UT-Arlington?
Ashley Langford: I've been asked this question so many times. After the game I didn't even know that I had 10 rebounds, I was shocked. I attributed it to being in the right place at the right time and a little bit of boxing out! It felt great to get into double figures in something other than points and assists.

TulaneGreenWave.com: Talk a little about the past weekend, a hard-fought win against Marshall and losing at East Carolina.
Ashley Langford: This past weekend was definitely a wake up call. We got away with a sloppy win at Marshall, and then eventually lost to ECU. The loss pointed out some weaknesses that we need to work on. We are refocused now and ready to make this tournament run.

TulaneGreenWave.com: Did you forget what losing was like during the 10-game win streak?
Ashley Langford: I hate losing. Especially when the loss is caused by us. I don't think anyone ever forgets what losing feels like, but I definitely did not think we were going to lose anytime soon.

TulaneGreenWave.com: Does losing a game late in the season help you refocus for the Conference USA Tournament?
Ashley Langford: Yes, it helps us fix little things and refine our offenses and defenses. Now that reality has hit that we are not invincible everyone is more focused and ready to start the winning streak all over again. We know we have to compete every night. We want to clinch the top seed in the Tournament Thursday (7 p.m. vs SMU at Fogelman Arena), and then win the C-USA regular season championship outright on Saturday (vs Tulsa at Fogelman Arena following 3 p.m. men's game). Then our next goal is winning the Conference USA tournament.

TulaneGreenWave.com: Last question: Anything else you want to say to your fans reading on the internet?
Ashley Langford: I hope everyone comes out to watch us play Thursday and Saturday in the last home games of the year. We can win a championship Thursday and Saturday is Senior Day for Jami and D.
...and I have to give some love back to my high school back in Harrisburg. Check out harrisburgcougars.net. PA ALL DAY!

Roll Wave!
"Deuce"

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