Members of the Hoopfest Women's Elite Division winning Mambas (L-R): Carrie Ojeda, Chene Cooper, Tayler Flemming and Aubrey Ashenfelter.
A trio of Eastern Washington women's basketball alumni made a name for themselves at the 2016 Spokane Hoopfest, as Aubrey Ashenfelter, Chene Cooper and Carrie Ojeda won the Women's Elite Division of the world's largest three-on-three tournament.
Under the team name, 'Mambas', Ashenfelter (2010-14), Cooper (2008-12) and Ojeda (2009-13) teamed up with Whitworth College alum, Tayler Flemming, and went an impressive 6-0 to win the top female bracket.
In the championship game, the Mambas took down Every Blessed Day, comprised of former players from Montana, Hawaii and Pepperdine. Cooper hit a clutch jumper to tie the game at 19-19 and Ashenfelter sealed the deal with a free throw on her team's next possession to claim the come-from-behind victory, 20-19.
"As kids, we were taught to play as a team, and Eastern Washington is where we learned to play our hearts out and play for one another," the trio said in a joint statement. "People have asked us how long we were preparing to play for Hoopfest, and the best answer we can give is ever since we stepped onto the hardwood at Reese Court."
Several current Eastern women's basketball players and coaches were in attendance throughout the weekend. Head coach Wendy Schuller was among them.
"I had so much fun at Hoopfest and seeing all of the Eagle alumni who attended and played," Schuller said. "The weekend was capped off with a phenomenal performance by three young women who I had the pleasure of coaching for four years."
When Schuller saw Ashenfelter dive on the hot pavement for a loose ball, "I knew they came to play and they did not disappoint."
Current members of the Eastern women's team were in attendance to sign autographs on Saturday, and several came back to watch their former teammates take home Hoopfest's top prize.
The Eastern women weren't the only Eagles to bring home the gold. Former men's basketball standout, and hometown Cheney product, Matt Brunell (2007-10) was a member of the Spokane Club that won the men's side of the Elite Division.
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