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Neosho County Community College

Neosho County Community College
Autumn, Ashleigh, & Coach Newton

Women's Basketball Amanda Laurenceau not picture due to illness.

Three Lady Panthers sign letters of Intent

Autumn Zenon, Ashleigh Downs, Amanda Laurenceau

Brian McDowell

Sports Editor

A reception was held at NCCC on Thursday to honor three players from the Lady Panthers basketball team who signed letters of intent to attend four-year universities. Ashleigh Downs (who spent this year on injured reserve) and Amanda Laurenceau both signed to attend Park University in Parkville, Mo., while the team's star point guard Autumn Zenon chose to transfer to Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo. Laurenceau missed the reception due to strep throat, but Downs and Zenon showed up to sign their letters and mingle with teammates, coaches and fans.

Downs chose Park because it's close to the Kansas City area, which is where she is from. 

“I'm just very family oriented,” Downs said. “There, I can fulfill my dream of playing basketball but still be close to my parents.” 

Downs said this year was a frustrating one for her. As a team player, she wanted to help the Lady Panthers out any way she could, and she couldn't do anything for the squad this year. 

“All I could do was just say what I needed to say, but when it came down to really being helpful, all I could do was just look,” Downs said.

NCCC women's basketball coach Kelley Newton said Downs will bring Park both versatility and experience. 

“She has developed since she left high school, because, in high school, she was a post player,” Newton said. “Since she came here, she's got some guard skills now. She can shoot it. She can handle the ball a little bit more. In her freshman year, she played a little bit of point. She played all three guard positions and was all over the floor, averaging about eight points a game. So, she turned into a real versatile player.”

Laurenceau just joined Neosho County this year, so Downs has never really gotten to play with her before. However, Downs said that it will feel real good to be able to play with somebody from Neosho next year at Park.

Newton said that, with Laurenceau, Park will have a player who can pass really well, who has developed a shot out to three-point range.

“That's what they wanted,” Newton said. “Plus, her size. She's six foot, and the coach there really likes her size. She'll be able to knock down shots and really find players.”

He also cited Laurenceau as a player that improved steadily throughout last season. 

“She got more confidence shooting the ball,” Newton said. “Before she got here, she wouldn't shoot outside of fifteen feet. She was able to develop those skills over one year.”

Zenon said that Southwest Baptist was a great school that has offered her a great opportunity. 

“They play in a great conference,” Zenon said, “and I'll be closer to Kansas City, so I'll get to see my family and previous teammates will get to come see me play. It just all worked out. It's a great fit for me.”

Zenon did talk to other schools before making her decision, but said that Southwest Baptist was the choice that suited her best. She liked both the campus and the coaching staff. 

Zenon will be playing a very similar role at Southwest to what she did for Neosho County this year; she will be the point guard of the team who runs the show. 

Representatives from Southwest watched Zenon play, both on film and in person. Newton said that a point guard who could score was something that Southwest Baptist coaches told him that they really wanted. 

“They want a guard that could run the team and score,” Newton said. “When she went on her visit, and with all the research they'd done, they really loved what she brought to the table. She's a point guard that definitely met their needs.”

Both Downs and Zenon cited Newton as the one element of playing for NCCC that they liked the best and will remember the most. 

“You never know what he's going to say,” Downs said. “He's very positive, but you just never know.”

According to Newton, all three players have worked very hard to accomplish their goals, and he wished them all the best as they further the education and basketball careers at the next level.

Newton announced at the event that five players from last year's Lady Panthers squad will be on the team next year, and the rest of the spots on the roster will be filled with players who Newton is currently in the process of recruiting and signing.

Read more: The Chanute Tribune - Three Lady Panthers sign letters of intent for KC area schools 
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