Jessie, a 5-foot-1 point guard from Long Beach, California, averaged 2.6 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists as a senior at Long Beach Millikan High School as her team posted a 28-5 overall record and finished 11-1 in conference play to earn the conference championship. She received several honors throughout her high school career including Honorable Mention as a senior and the team’s Coaches’ Award. She was selected as the tournament Player of the Game once in 2006 and named the All-Tournament Defensive Player in 2007. She also received a Most Valuable Player award in 2004-2005.

"I am excited that Ashley chose MVNU as her college choice,” said MVNU head coach Steve Gregory. "Her values align with ours in looking for a place that she could get a high quality personalized education, an exciting basketball program with a strong opportunity to compete right away, and a strong desire to deepen her faith at a Christian university.”

"Ashley had a very good season at Long Beach Millikan while starting and playing the point guard position,” Gregory added. "She can dish the ball, stroke the three-point shot, lock down her opponent with her tenacious defense, and help her team in whatever is asked of her. I was fortunate enough to coach her at USA Junior Nationals in Columbus last summer and got to know her very well. At the event, she was selected as a Third Team All-American. We stayed in contact throughout the recruiting process and feel very honored that she would choose MVNU - a university so far from home. I look forward to working very closely with Ashley and helping her reach her full potential.”

In addition to playing basketball at Long Beach Millikan, Jessie was a Merit Scholar honoree as a junior and was on the principal’s honor roll as a sophomore and a junior.

"I chose to attend MVNU because I felt that this was the college that could best help me further my education,” said Jessie. "The factor that played the biggest role was Coach Gregory, who has had a positive influence in my life. He was definitely the convincing factor in my reasoning for attending MVNU. I feel that MVNU can really help me grow and mature in the best way possible for me. I also like the fact that it is out of state.”

MVNU finished the 2007-2008 season with an 18-12 overall record. The Lady Cougars also advanced to the championship game of the National Christian College Athletic Association East Region Tournament before falling 65-62 in overtime at Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) College.