By Robert Fulton

Former Connally High School star Ashleigh Fontenette has been a key piece to the success of the University of Texas women’s basketball team so far this season. The Longhorns are ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press poll, and boast a record of 11-5. Texas only has to look as far its new point guard to see why they are playing so well.

Not that Fontenette, a sophomore, is new. She was a solid contributor on last year’s squad that made an NCAA tournament appearance, and was asked to fill in at the point position late in the campaign. Knowing that would be her responsibility this season, she worked on mastering the position during the off season.

“I think in the summer I developed a lot of my offensive game,” said Fontenette, 20. “It’s pretty difficult at the college level. I played a little in high school, but it’s not the same as in college. I’m still trying to get the hang of it. The game is faster. I’m trying to see the whole court.

“I think having to go through it last year helped me,” she added.

Fontenette has had a number of highlights this season, but none bigger than when she scored 30 against Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Jan. 2. She tallied 22 points in the first half alone on 9-of-9 shooting.

“It was just one of those days,” Fontenette said.

However, it hasn’t been all blow-out victories for the Longhorns this season. The team had a rude awakening against Big 12 rival Texas A&M on Jan. 9, losing 91-70 to snap a six-game winning streak. Clearly conference play will be tougher than the Longhorns’ early season opponents.

“I think the game was a bit more physical than we expected it to be,” said Fontenette of the contest against A&M. Texas also lost to Nebraska 91-79 after this interview to drop the team to 0-2 in conference. “We’ll learn from it and get better.

“I think the Big 12 is very physical. Every game is going to be a battle.”

In addition to taking over the point guard duties, Fontenette was bestowed another leadership role – she was named team captain by her teammates.

“I think it’s an honor my teammates think I’d be a good person to lead them,” Fontenette said. “I think you have to be vocal, and at the same time you have to lead by example. I have to go hard and lead by example. I’ve been more vocal this year.”

So far this season, Fontenette is averaging 9.1 points per game in 24 minutes a contest, and leads the team in assists with 53. Last year, she averaged 6.5 points and 1.9 rebounds in over 21 minutes a game before the Longhorns were eliminated in the first round of the tournament 71-63 by Mississippi State.

In high school, Fontenette was the 2008 Central Texas Player of the Year her senior year after averaging 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals a game.

Now, she’s a team captain and point guard for Texas. But like any leader, she’s taking it a game at a time.

“As of right now, we just want to come together and get the win,” Fontenette said. “Our main thing is creating for each other.”