Greenville, SC - The NCCAA is pleased to recognize
Ashley DeWeese of
Ohio Christian University (OCU) as the 2025 Kathy Freese-Peabody Award recipient for Division I Women's Basketball.
Award Description
The purpose of the award is to enhance the Christian purpose of athletic excellence in Christian athletic competition, and to perpetuate the Christian philosophy and faith in evangelical Christian institutions across our nation. Kathy Freese-Peabody led her team to three NCCAA National Championship appearances, while also emphasizing the importance of spiritual growth. She assisted with growing the sport of women's basketball in the NCCAA during her tenure and served the association in a variety of roles, including national chairperson.
On the court, DeWeese has been a consistent force for the Trailblazers, averaging 17.0 points per game, ranks fifth in the NCCAA with 121 assists this season, and has dished out 279 dimes in her career. The junior from Ashville, Ohio has been a defensive force as well, recording 37 steals this season while hauling in 4.5 rebounds per contest. DeWeese has earned both Third Team and Honorable Mention honors from the NAIA River States Conference in her career.
In the classroom, DeWeese holds a 3.78 GPA while majoring in business and was a member of the River States Conference Scholar Athlete Team for the 2023-24 season. DeWeese leads the OCU women's basketball team's Bible study, helps monthly in a homeless outreach ministry in Ohio, was a member of a mission trip to El Salvador, and has been a mentor to many women on campus at Ohio Christian University.
"Ashley is the type of player everyone would love to have on their team," says Ohio Christian University Head Women's Basketball Coach
Lauryn VanHoose. "She is so unselfish and always wants to do what the team needs her to do. She prides herself on the hustle plays and the plays many kids do not want to make these days. She is a player that her teammates can look up to and go for advice on and off the court."
"When I arrived at Ohio Christian University, I was newly born again in my faith after a long period of not walking with Jesus," says DeWeese. "My freshman year was a season of fire and passion for God. The community around me played a huge role in pushing me forward, helping me grow in wisdom and understanding."
"My sophomore year became a journey of deepening my personal relationship with God, learning through both triumphs and trials. One of the hardest challenges I faced was being a victim of sexual assault. Though this was one of the most difficult experiences of my life, my faith did not waver. In that moment of suffering, I realized that it was Jesus who saved me not physically, but spiritually and mentally. That realization transformed my mission: I wanted to help others grow in their faith just as I had, so that in their trials, they would know the only truth and way in life."
"Feeling convicted to do more, I started leading a weekly Bible study for the team. When I leave Ohio Christian University, I don't just want to be remembered as a good ball player, but as a faithful servant of Jesus. Looking back on the past three years, I see how much I have grown, and I know that none of it would have been possible without God's goodness and grace."
Congratulations Ashley!
