Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Jones Making Grade
1/27/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 27, 2001
By Bob Gosman
Boca Raton News
As fast as FAU junior basketball player Chantale Jones moves on the basketball court, that's how slow time dragged for her during the first semester of this school year.
Jones, who started all but three games last season, found out last spring she would be academically ineligible to play basketball until the second semester.
Jones vividly remembers crying during a phone conversation with coach Chancellor Dugan when she found out she was ineligible. Dugan told her that she had to do well in summer school or her scholarship would be pulled.
"I made things very clear to her, and she stepped up and did it," Dugan said. "I'm very proud of her. Sitting out a semester of basketball really motivated her."
After posting a strong 3.4 GPA during the first semester, her numbers have been just as impresssive in her six games of action in January.
Jones, a point guard, is averaging 10 points per game going into FAU's (4-13, 1-7) 3 p.m. home game against Trans America Athletic Conference for Georgia State (12-5, 6-2).
Jones is averaging four turnovers per game, but she leads the Owls in assists and steals with an average of 5.0 and 3.5, respectively.
Jones returned to action Jan. 6 against UCF, and her play caught the immediate attention of Golden Knights coach Gail Striegler.
"She brings a lot to the table," Striegler said. "She's by far their best defensive player, and she's very potent at dishing and driving to the basket."
Jones rarely can draw on a height advantage at 5-foot-3, but she almost always enjoys a quickness advantage.
"I'm not a shooter, so I like to pass the ball and play defense," Jones said. "I like to do something exciting on the defensive end because it gets (our) team going and fires up the crowd."
Dugan said Jones' passion for basketball has a positive effect on the rest of the team.
"She was the missing ingredient as far as intensity goes," Dugan said. "She's a very enthusiastic player. You can never really make a lazy pass around her. She plays so hard all the time."
Jones credits her family nad teammates for helping her stay morivated about improving her grades so she could return to the team.
"My family was disappointed, but they stuck to my side," she Jones, who often plays 1-on-1 with her two brothers. "My teammates made sure I was going to class and asked me about my grades every day."
With her grades on track, Jones knows it's time for FAU's women's basketball to do the same.
The Owls have struggled to win games this season, but Jones is confident their best basketball is ahead of them.
So is Dugan, especially now that her point guard is back on the floor.
"I've noticed her being more of a leader out there, and that's really the void that we needed to be filled," Dugan said. "She's elevated everyone's play."