— By Taylor Kennedy
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Abby Beeman’s last 12 months have been somewhat similar to many college athletes, yet so much different, too.
A year ago at this time, Beeman was in the process of finishing her second year at Shepherd University. She is now thriving in a new role with the Marshall Thundering Herd women’s basketball team at the Division I level.
Beeman played two seasons with the Rams before signing with Marshall last spring.
While athletes are transferring in today’s era more than ever before, the leap from Division II to Division I isn’t all that common.
Beeman’s success at Shepherd made her a prime candidate to make the jump. As a freshman, she averaged 20 points and seven assists, which earned her the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Freshman of the Year award. Beeman picked up where she left off the following year and averaged 19 points, while being honored as a D2CAA All-America Team selection.
A native of Ridgeley and former star at Frankfort High School, Beeman wanted to try her hand at a higher level. She has not skipped a beat for Tony Kemper’s Herd team, and is second on the squad in scoring with a 13.8 average, while leading Marshall in rebounding at 6.6 despite being only 5-foot-4.
“It has been a smooth transition so far,” Beeman said. “The biggest adjustment is realizing that everyone on the court is more athletic, faster, and bigger. It is harder to score in the paint, and you are surrounded by talented players on your team or the opposing team.”
Originally playing slightly more than an hour from her hometown, Beeman is now in excess of four hours from Ridgeley, though she says it’s meaningful to remain in West Virginia.
“I was playing in my home state at the Division II level, but to do it at the highest level is special, especially when wearing Marshall across my chest,” Beeman said. “It means a little more than other schools.”
Marshall is enjoying a relatively successful season at 15-10 overall and 8-6 within the Sun Belt Conference
The Herd’s six-game win streak was snapped Saturday in a 64-60 home loss to Texas State. Four regular season games remain starting Thursday at Georgia Southern.
“We are a super competitive group,” Beeman noted. “We have so much depth on the team. We hate to lose, whether we are in practice or a game. We are never out of it, and I feel like we always have a chance. It took some time for us to mesh together, but we are starting to get the hang of it. We are hard to beat when we are all playing together.”
Beeman’s role has shifted from often being the go-to option for the Rams to another option for the Herd at times.
Still, she’s registered double-figure scoring in each of the last six games and all but four contests.
“If you are looking at it from an opponent’s point of view, it makes it harder to guard whenever there is more than one person to watch,” Beeman said. “Having multiple people on the team that can score the basketball and do other things can allow others to play to their strengths. I was the top option on my other team, and I feel like I am that way here. However, it is a little easier because there are other people that teams have to key on, and they cannot only watch me. We have other guards and post players that can score the basketball.”
Beeman also believes she’s improved defensively after making the leap to Huntington.
“Many things have translated, but I have bought in more on the defensive end. I am not saying that I have not been a good defender, but there is a big emphasis on it here,” Beeman said. “I have also gotten after it on the glass to help my team rebound, which also ties into the defensive end of the floor. I challenge myself each game by going against good guards and seeing how I can contain them.”
Beeman is one of four West Virginia natives on this year’s team, alongside a trio of true freshmen in Peyton Ilderton, Meredith Maier and Olivia Ziolkowski.
Ilderton led Logan to a Class AAA championship last season against a Fairmont Senior team that Maier was an integral part of. Ziolkowski, meanwhile, enjoyed a successful prep career at Woodrow Wilson.
In her time at Frankfort, Beeman finished with more than 2,200 points and was also a four-time all-state selection.
“It means everything to me,” Beeman said. “Some people like to venture outside their hometown and state for the college experience, especially as an athlete. You are normally not fortunate enough to stay in your home state. I have been blessed to stay in West Virginia all my high school and college years. It means more playing and representing your home state.”