Lost ex-teammate inspires Lincoln to women’s Division II NCAA Tournament

As the Lincoln University women’s basketball team celebrated winning the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association tournament last weekend in Baltimore and clinched a berth in the NCAA Division II tournament, there was one person on the hearts and minds of the celebrating players and coaches.

One of their former teammates, DeAshia Young, died unexpectedly Feb. 5 in Detroit.

“[Young] was the leader on the court for us,” said assistant coach Cherelle Dennis, who coached the point guard for two seasons. “I described it to so many people, this kid would run through a brick wall if you asked her to do it.”

Lincoln, seeded eighth, will play No. 1 seed Glennville State of West Virginia in the 32-team first round on Friday.

Young last played for the Lions during the 2019-20 season, when she averaged 13.2 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.9 rebounds as a senior. During this year’s CIAA tournament, the team wore black T-shirts that read #Allfor1, Young’s jersey number, on the back, and a picture of Young, on the front, during warmups.

“For [the team], losing [Young], I tell people that it was probably the best and worst thing that could happen, because it kind of put us in overdrive,” Dennis said. “Of course we wanted to win it all for ourselves, but I think it became a thing where we have to go win [the CIAA title] for her.”

This season, Lincoln started the season successfully — but not overwhelmingly dominant — at 15-6. Since Feb. 5, the Lions are 7-1, riding a six-game winning streak and having claimed the school’s first CIAA tournament title.

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“Kudos to the young ladies that did not have an opportunity to play with DeAshia, because they kind of adopted the [do it for her] mentality,” said Dennis.

Only six of the 14 current Lincoln players played with Young.

“[Young] was just goofy and really down to earth,” said Bryanna Brown, a fifth-year senior and this season’s CIAA Player of the Year. “She would see the potential in you and want you to do better and excel along with her.”

Said Brown, remembering Young’s motivating words: “She would tell me, ‘Bri, you could be averaging double figures if you just shoot more. When you pass the ball, just shoot. Don’t be hesitant.’”

Brown credits Young for giving her offensive confidence. Her advice worked: after averaging less than 10 points per game each of her first three seasons, Brown’s average skyrocketed to 17.7 this season.

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“She had her personal goals but she was more of a ‘we’ versus ‘me’ person, and I think that is what sits on my heart with [Young],” said Joy Morton, who was Young’s roommate during road trips. “She put everything she had into [basketball].”

First-year head coach Janice Washington did not coach Young, but is reminded of her legacy frequently by Dennis and her teammates.

“As a coach, I had to get a lot of tough skin with this kid,” said Dennis. “[Young] had a Detroit mentality, and she would push the buttons. There were several practices where we would have to set her aside, even games. That was just DeAshia. You never knew what you were going to get, but at the end of the day, she meant well.”

“Everybody thought that [Young] was a hard body, but that girl had some soft spots,” said Morton.

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Morton and Dennis have stayed in contact with members of Young’s family. Morton said that they have been keeping up with Lincoln’s success, watching the team keep Young’s legacy alive.

In late January, Brown and Morton recalled talking to Young on the phone. They described her as “happy” and “upbeat.”

Before hanging up, Morton said Young gave them one final rallying cry for the rest of the season:

“Go get what is y’alls.”