Time Flies When You're Having Fun
3/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
This feature article appeared in the fifth and final edition of Flames Illustrated for the 2009-10 basketball season. Amber Mays has helped the Lady Flames post a 24-5 record and earn the No. 2 seed for the Big South Women's Basketball Championship as a senior co-captain. She leads the Big South Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.24), while ranking No. 3 among conference players in both assists (3.9 apg) and steals (2.3 spg).
An old adage states, "Time flies when you're having fun." Weekends never seem to last long enough, and similarly Amber Mays' two years at Liberty have elapsed very quickly. As her time with the Lady Flames draws to a close, though, it is evident that the senior point guard has thoroughly enjoyed her experiences at Liberty.
Mays originally hails from Pasadena, Calif., and attended two years of junior college at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Mo. So, she was not sure exactly what to expect when she arrived at Liberty for her junior year.
"I didn't think it would be this fun at Liberty," stated Mays. "Now, I don't really want to leave. This is like a family, with all of my teammates."
It's safe to say that Mays' teammates and coaches don't want her to leave either. She has been a stalwart at the point guard spot the past two seasons, ranking among the Big South Conference's top two in both assists and steals throughout her senior campaign.
In fact, head coach Carey Green believes Mays compares favorably to some of the top floor generals in program history. The 11th-year head coach, whose Lady Flames teams have boasted standout point guards like Sarah Wilkerson, Daina Staugaitiene and Allyson Fasnacht, expressed, "Amber is like a quarterback or director of our offense and has done a very good job. She's one of the most explosive players ever to wear a Liberty uniform. She brings high energy and has to be considered one of the top five point guards ever to play for the Lady Flames, if not higher on the list."
Mays has also made more intangible contributions to the Lady Flames success, taking on a key leadership role as the lone senior and a co-captain on this year's young and inexperienced team.
"It has been fun being this year's only senior," Mays reflected. "I like being a leader. I try to bring energy and be positive and make sure everyone's doing their assignment. I also make sure everyone is having fun and not just treating basketball like a job."
"Amber has high energy and youthfulness, but she also has the vision of this being the twilight of her college career and of our need for senior leadership," added Green. "She has grasped her responsibility as a leader very well."
As a leader, Mays has tried to share with her teammates some of the most important things she has learned at Liberty. "I have learned humility here at Liberty," the left-hander noted. "I have learned to always put my team first and put God first. I have also learned the importance of staying positive. Finally, I have learned to always remember who I'm playing for."
"Amber's most significant development at Liberty has been spiritual, which has impacted her in all areas," Green contributed. "She has been sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and God has directed her life. Her experience at Liberty has invested in her to develop beyond the game of basketball. That's what I want for every player."
Mays is not ready to give up playing basketball yet, noting that she intends to explore her options of playing professionally overseas, after graduating from Liberty. Once her playing career is finished, however, the criminal justice major plans to enroll in the police academy and start working on her master's degree.
Whatever Mays ends up doing beyond the basketball realm, Green has full confidence that she will be successful. "I can recognize Amber's gifts, like giving and communicating with others," Green observed. "She has never met a stranger, and she has a sensitive heart. God is going to use her in a special way."
Before she moves on, though, Mays has some unfinished business to take care of on the basketball court. She got a taste of the NCAA Tournament last season, when the Lady Flames faced eventual national runner-up Louisville in the first round. That game just served to whet the senior's appetite for this season. "I want to get back to the NCAA Tournament, and make it past the first round this time," said Mays.
In order to achieve that goal, Mays will have to continue doing something she enjoys and takes pride in, playing strong defense. Her 68 steals during the 2008-09 season were the most by a Lady Flames since 1999-2000, and Mays is on pace to shatter that total this year. "Defense is definitely my favorite part of the game," Mays noted. "It's the most exciting, when you're able to prevent your opponent from scoring."
Mays will also need to keep serving as a leader for her younger teammates and imparting more valuable lessons to the other Lady Flames. "I try to teach my teammates to stay positive," Mays explained. "Everyone makes mistakes, and you can't get down on yourself or things will just get worse.
"I also remind my teammates that they are fortunate to play at this level. A lot of girls out there would love to be here, playing Division I basketball. So, you can't take it for granted, and you always need to give it your all."
Green has not brought in many junior college transfers during his tenure as Liberty's head coach. But Mays has certainly filled a valuable role on the team, giving the Lady Flames an upperclassman at point guard after the graduation of Fasnacht. The only drawback? Green explained, "My only regret is that I didn't get to have Amber here for all four years."
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Paul Carmany is an Assistant Athletics Communications Director who covers Liberty's women's basketball program.
An old adage states, "Time flies when you're having fun." Weekends never seem to last long enough, and similarly Amber Mays' two years at Liberty have elapsed very quickly. As her time with the Lady Flames draws to a close, though, it is evident that the senior point guard has thoroughly enjoyed her experiences at Liberty.
Mays originally hails from Pasadena, Calif., and attended two years of junior college at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Mo. So, she was not sure exactly what to expect when she arrived at Liberty for her junior year.
"I didn't think it would be this fun at Liberty," stated Mays. "Now, I don't really want to leave. This is like a family, with all of my teammates."
It's safe to say that Mays' teammates and coaches don't want her to leave either. She has been a stalwart at the point guard spot the past two seasons, ranking among the Big South Conference's top two in both assists and steals throughout her senior campaign.
In fact, head coach Carey Green believes Mays compares favorably to some of the top floor generals in program history. The 11th-year head coach, whose Lady Flames teams have boasted standout point guards like Sarah Wilkerson, Daina Staugaitiene and Allyson Fasnacht, expressed, "Amber is like a quarterback or director of our offense and has done a very good job. She's one of the most explosive players ever to wear a Liberty uniform. She brings high energy and has to be considered one of the top five point guards ever to play for the Lady Flames, if not higher on the list."
Mays has also made more intangible contributions to the Lady Flames success, taking on a key leadership role as the lone senior and a co-captain on this year's young and inexperienced team.
"It has been fun being this year's only senior," Mays reflected. "I like being a leader. I try to bring energy and be positive and make sure everyone's doing their assignment. I also make sure everyone is having fun and not just treating basketball like a job."
"Amber has high energy and youthfulness, but she also has the vision of this being the twilight of her college career and of our need for senior leadership," added Green. "She has grasped her responsibility as a leader very well."
As a leader, Mays has tried to share with her teammates some of the most important things she has learned at Liberty. "I have learned humility here at Liberty," the left-hander noted. "I have learned to always put my team first and put God first. I have also learned the importance of staying positive. Finally, I have learned to always remember who I'm playing for."
"Amber's most significant development at Liberty has been spiritual, which has impacted her in all areas," Green contributed. "She has been sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and God has directed her life. Her experience at Liberty has invested in her to develop beyond the game of basketball. That's what I want for every player."
Mays is not ready to give up playing basketball yet, noting that she intends to explore her options of playing professionally overseas, after graduating from Liberty. Once her playing career is finished, however, the criminal justice major plans to enroll in the police academy and start working on her master's degree.
Whatever Mays ends up doing beyond the basketball realm, Green has full confidence that she will be successful. "I can recognize Amber's gifts, like giving and communicating with others," Green observed. "She has never met a stranger, and she has a sensitive heart. God is going to use her in a special way."
Before she moves on, though, Mays has some unfinished business to take care of on the basketball court. She got a taste of the NCAA Tournament last season, when the Lady Flames faced eventual national runner-up Louisville in the first round. That game just served to whet the senior's appetite for this season. "I want to get back to the NCAA Tournament, and make it past the first round this time," said Mays.
In order to achieve that goal, Mays will have to continue doing something she enjoys and takes pride in, playing strong defense. Her 68 steals during the 2008-09 season were the most by a Lady Flames since 1999-2000, and Mays is on pace to shatter that total this year. "Defense is definitely my favorite part of the game," Mays noted. "It's the most exciting, when you're able to prevent your opponent from scoring."
Mays will also need to keep serving as a leader for her younger teammates and imparting more valuable lessons to the other Lady Flames. "I try to teach my teammates to stay positive," Mays explained. "Everyone makes mistakes, and you can't get down on yourself or things will just get worse.
"I also remind my teammates that they are fortunate to play at this level. A lot of girls out there would love to be here, playing Division I basketball. So, you can't take it for granted, and you always need to give it your all."
Green has not brought in many junior college transfers during his tenure as Liberty's head coach. But Mays has certainly filled a valuable role on the team, giving the Lady Flames an upperclassman at point guard after the graduation of Fasnacht. The only drawback? Green explained, "My only regret is that I didn't get to have Amber here for all four years."
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Paul Carmany is an Assistant Athletics Communications Director who covers Liberty's women's basketball program.
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