Kodiaks women’s basketball adds Deep South League all-star centre

The Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks women’s basketball team has added size and strength with the commitment of centre forward Ashlyn Doeve this upcoming season. 

Doeve enjoyed a successful high school career at Coaldale Christian School, where she helped lead the program to a successful Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association Provincial Championship this past season. A co-captain, she was named a Deep South League all-star and finished among her team’s leading scorers. The six-foot-two player from Barnwell, Alta., is set to enter Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Exercise Sciences program this fall. 

For Doeve, the chance to stay close to home and the welcoming environment she experienced while attending games throughout the season made joining the Kodiaks an easy choice.

 “I really liked the small-town atmosphere of the polytechnic and the games,” says Doeve. “I liked the crowd that was there, and I liked the atmosphere of the game, so that was a draw for me.”

During the recruitment process, Kodiaks head coach Deanna Simpson noticed Doeve’s strong presence around the basket.

"When we watched Ashlyn play for the first time, she really took advantage of her height," says Simpson. "She was a force inside, aggressive around the rim and worked hard to finish plays. She understands how to use her size effectively and can also recognize when to involve her teammates."

Simpson says Doeve brings qualities that will strengthen the Kodiaks' post rotation while adding valuable depth to the roster.

"She rebounds well, keeps the ball high and looks to score when she gets opportunities around the basket," says Simpson. "Defensively, she competes hard and understands her role. We see her providing important depth in the post and continuing to develop into a strong presence for us."

Simpson adds Doeve's championship experience and team-first mentality make her a strong fit for the Kodiaks program.

"Ashlyn comes from a successful team environment and understands what it takes to contribute to winning," she says. "There will be an adjustment to the physicality of the ACAC [Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference], but I expect her to embrace that challenge and make an impact right away."

Doeve says she is excited for the opportunity to continue playing the sport she loves while being part of a new team environment at the post-secondary level.

“I’m really excited to join the team,” she says. “I really like the team atmosphere of basketball, and I love the sport itself. It’s really cool that I get to join another team.”

Doeve says she is thankful for her parents’ support and encouragement to continue to pursue her love of basketball at the next level.