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Less than a week into fall practice, Washington & Jefferson College women's basketball coach Jina DeRubbo realized she had something special in freshman guard Alyssa Oursler.

The Middletown High graduate was playing well beyond her years, something she would continue to do so throughout her debut season with the Presidents.

"It happened quickly in practice," DeRubbo said. "Right at the beginning of practice, when it's hard for a freshman to learn our system, she picked up stuff early. We knew quickly, the first week of practice that it wouldn't take her long to adjust. We [the staff] felt like maybe midseason she would start, but then after a week said maybe we should just throw her to the wolves."

It took Oursler a little longer to settle in. Still acclimating to life on campus and the rigors of collegiate athletics, she hit her stride after a few stints on the floor.

"It definitely took longer than a week," Oursler said. "I guess my confidence built when I knew I was going to be starting. After the first couple of games, when I thought I held my own, I started getting comfortable."

Listed at 5-foot-10, Oursler started all 28 games. She helped the Presidents, who ironically compete in the Presidents' Athletic Conference, to a 23-5 record, an NCAA Division III Tournament appearance and a No. 24 national ranking.

Oursler averaged 9.9 points and four rebounds per contest. Reaching double figures in scoring 14 times, including a season-best 20 points against Geneva College (Pa.) in late Jan. She led the conference in free throw shooting, connecting on 90 percent (62-of-69) of her attempts, and also added 26 assists, 21 steals and 14 blocked shots.

"Overall, it was a good year," Oursler said. "Coming into it I didn't really know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised with how much of a chance I was given to play as a freshman."

Presidents' fans didn't have to wait long for Oursler to make her mark. Making her collegiate debut, she dropped 15 points against Ohio's Case Western Reserve on Nov. 16. Less than 24 hours later, she supplied 17 points and eight boards against Capital University (OH).

The Gazette's 2009 Player of the Year, Oursler posted 16.9 points and 6.9 boards per contest in leading the Knights to a 21-4 record in her senior season. She also considered two other Pennsylvania institutions—the University of Scranton and Gettysburg College, but kept coming back to W&J.

"I picked W&J because of the I liked the basketball program and the good academics," she said. "I thought it was a good balance of both."