By Nate Owen, News Staff
This is the fourth in the series of articles profiling the five top male and female senior athletes at Northeastern, culminating in the Huntington News male and female Senior Athletes of the Year.
A quick glance at the women’s basketball all-time statistical leaders shows Ashlee Feldman’s name scattered across several categories, but what it doesn’t reveal is the deep friendship the senior guard developed with her teammates, starting the minute she stepped on campus.
‘The girls on the team were my friends,’ she said. ‘[Former guard] Jody Burrows was my host when I visited and when I met them, I instantly felt like I had friends.’
It’s safe to say Feldman probably didn’t make many friends on opposing defenses, and with good reason:’ The sharp shooter ranks second in Husky history in three-pointers with 240, seventh in three-point percentage (33.1), 11th in points (1,221) and scoring average (10.2). Her 88.4 free throw percentage is tops all-time at Northeastern.
She started her career with a bang, scoring 20 points in her first collegiate game against Holy Cross Nov. 18, 2005. Feldman wrapped up her freshman campaign setting an NU rookie mark with 57 three-pointers, and was named to the All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Rookie Team.’
‘ As a sophomore, Feldman converted 72 three-pointers, second most in NU single-season history. On Dec. 21, 2006, she set a school record with seven three-pointers against Harvard. Her 90.2 percent mark from the free throw line was a single-season Husky mark. As a junior, she opened the season with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc as Northeastern downed Coppin State. She also scored her 1,000th career point in a 70-52 loss to St. John’s Nov. 14.
Senior year brought a new challenge, with Feldman sharing captain duties with junior forward Kendra Walton. Thanks to the advice of former teammates Burrows, Stefanie Hodell and India Thomas, Feldman said she was able to step into the leadership role, but the transition wasn’t flawless.
‘I learned so much from them,’ Feldman said. ‘But it wasn’t easy with seven incoming freshman.’
In helping the young Husky players adapt to the college game, Feldman said she once again emulated the experience she had as a young player who was mentored by the veterans on the team.
‘My whole thing is to first, be their best friend, in addition to their teammate and captain,’ she said. ‘It’s a three-part deal, but first and foremost I wanted to be a friend to them. I’m not a yeller; I don’t like to come at people.’
Feldman, a communication studies major, will graduate this May and said she hopes to have a career in broadcasting and has contacted ESPN and the CAA about job opportunities.
She said she hopes to remain in Boston, but no matter what happens, she said she’ll’ most miss the time spent with her teammates.
‘I’m going to miss Northeastern,’ Feldman said. ‘Hanging out with my teammates, we instantly became family. We were together 24-7. Those are the times I can never get back.’
