Shell Stands Tall for FSC Women’s Basketball

Ashley Shell is making her extra year of eligibility count.

Thanks to the added year of eligibility Ashley received due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she is primed to graduate in the spring of 2023 with her Master’s and Bachelor of Science degrees in accounting.

Combine that with an already completed full-time internship with the accounting firm BDO, one final year as a member of the women’s basketball team, and it adds up to an incredible educational experience for Ashley.

“I had this talk with my advisor (Instructor of Accounting Celina Jozsi) and I told her about the situation of getting an extra year,” Ashley said. “She helped me set up my schedule in a way that I could do both. She’s the one who set my schedule and made sure it all worked out for sure.”

Thanks to her successful internship, which was cultivated by Florida Southern College’s signature opportunity of an internship with a company in a student’s major field, Ashley already has a job lined up with BDO when she graduates next spring.

Ashley’s success at her internship should not come as any surprise as she has excelled off the court in her academic career since coming to campus from Deerfield Beach. In three of Ashley’s four years at FSC, she’s been named to the Sunshine State Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll, for student-athletes having at least a 3.2 GPA.

On the court Ashley has worked just as hard to become a team leader and a staple at her position.

In four years, Ashley has played in 90 games and has started in 39 of those contests. Along the way, Ashley has scored 528 career points and has a chance for a career year this season.

During Ashley’s freshman season, she recalled learning a lot from then-seniors Anja Fuchs-Robetin ‘18 and Camille Giardina ‘18. Now, Ashley’s in position to give back to a very young team that consists of five freshmen and four sophomores.

“My freshmen year I had really great players to play behind and learn a lot from,” Ashley said. “The biggest thing I’ve improved on is being comfortable with the ball and trusting myself. I feel like this year, like not saying that this is my team, but I get to say what we do. The coaches make it so easy to have a good relationship with them. I love being able to be a leader this year.”

Interim women’s basketball head coach Megan Dzikas ‘12 has been around Ashley since she first became an assistant coach in 2019.

Dzikas said the growth that Ashley has shown since her first year has been tremendous.

“This will be year four with Ashley and I can say throughout the years that our relationship has gotten closer and closer,” Dzikas said. “I think in her sophomore year she was figuring out life. Each year she’s continued to grow as a player, a leader and now she’s able to take over a team and continue the culture, to continue the success and continue the leadership that came before her. She’s learned all those things and is pouring it into our newcomers and they’re seeing that role. I think Ashley’s done a great job of leading this young team. Ashley’s commitment to the team and in the classroom has been excellent. I’m looking forward to her role continuing to grow.”

The Mocs begin the 2022-23 season on Fri., Nov. 11, facing Lee (Tenn.) University in the Marion Bowman Activities Center on the campus of St. Leo University. The team opens the home portion of the schedule on Sat., Nov. 19, hosting Palm Beach Atlantic University in the George W. Jenkins Field House. You can view the full schedule here.  

Follow the team at FSCMocs.com and on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook .