Williams earns community award

FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas junior women’s basketball player Ashlea Williams earned selection to the Southeastern Conference Community Service Team the league office announced today.

Williams, a 6-2 post player from Springfield, Mo., has been limited in her third season with chronic knee injury and pain playing in just three games this year.

“Ashlea is a great kid,” Arkansas head coach Tom Collen said. “She has struggled with injuries but remains positive and is happy to contribute to our team any way she can. I think she’s a great role model for young people.”

Despite her injuries, Williams has remained active in several community service projects for the Razorbacks. She is a three-year participant in the Razorbacks’ Sweat Hawgs program encouraging area elementary students to get fit.

Williams has also participated in several events and clinics including the Life Source Hog Breakfast, the Angle Tree, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Butterfield Trail Retirement Center and Charter Vista for at-risk kids visits. In addition, Williams works with area youth at several Razorback Basketball Camps and at the Martin Luther King Jr., Youth Clinic.

Previous Razorback women’s basketball selections to the SEC Community Service Team include Charity Ford (2009), Sarah Pfeifer (2005, 2007), Rochelle Vaughn (2006), Shanna Harmon (2004) and Shameka Christon (2003).

Williams and the Razorbacks take on Vanderbilt in the first round of the SEC Tournament Thursday at 5:30 p.m. central.