Full time student, mother of six and collegiate athlete at CEU

A full-time student, mother of six and a member of the College of Eastern Utah’s women’s basketball team at 32 years old?

Alisa Morley played her freshman year for CEU Coach Dave Paur in 1993-94. At 6-foot-1 and an all-state player from Blanding, she was one of four women over 6-feet tall on Paur’s team.

Between Morley’s freshman and sophomore seasons, three of the 6-foot players got married, including Morley, who met her husband Jedd during the first few weeks of fall semester. They were engaged in January and married in April. She eventually finished her associate’s degree but still had a year left of basketball eligibility.

Thirteen years and six children later, Morley is part of Paur’s rotation this year. “She hit three three pointers in a row against Glendale Community College,” Paur added. “She shoots from half court and doesn’t seem to have a conscience. She is setting at .500 in field goal percentage.”

“When I was a freshman, I loved playing basketball. That year I played with future All-American Angie Ross and it was an overall positive experience.” she said. “I would encourage anyone to play here.”

Living in Price, Morley was a volunteer coach for the Golden Eagles last season where she felt her strength was giving the team talks about mental toughness and believing in themselves.

“This made me think. I am preaching and teaching to be the best. The girls can do anything they put their minds to if they have confidence in themselves,” she said. “But to be truly effective, I told myself that I could be a better example if I did what I told them to do. I love playing basketball and want to return to the game.

“I first checked with my family and needed to get into condition. My husband and I decided to train for and participate in a triathlon last April. He invited me to work out with a great group of guys playing basketball every other morning at a LDS Church building. Now the season has begun, my body is still trying to get into shape. I ache and get sore a lot easier. I don’t remember conditioning hurting as much 13 years ago.”

During her freshman year, Morley’s parents (Ike and LouNell Chamberlain) or siblings were at every game, be it home or away. This year, besides her parents and husband, Morley’s cheer section at home games has grown.

Her children, ages 12, 11, 9, 8, 5 and 2, as well as the in-laws are part of the home crowd. “I can hear them cheer for me and it’s great,” she said. “I could not do this without their support.”

Juggling her schedule is very hectic. The weekday begins at 5:30 a.m. Three days a week, she is at the Bunnell-Dmitrich Athletic Center lifting weights and shooting. The children are up at 6:30 a.m. to get ready for school and catch the bus. She runs her two-year-old to the babysitter and is in class by 8 a.m.

It is classes all morning and basketball practice from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Another babysitter stays with the children until she gets home from practice. Then it is homework, cooking dinner, reading to the younger children, and finally starting her homework at 9 p.m. “It will really take a lot of support from friends and family to get me through this season,” she smiled. “Plus I pray a lot.”

Traveling with the team is hard on her family life. The coach lets her take one of her children on road trips and that helps. Husband Jedd was with her the past weekend, so her mom drove from Blanding to stay with the children while she played in a two-day tournament.

“The biggest challenge I face is making sure I contribute to the team, believe in myself, and get in shape. I work harder than I did when I first played college ball, but it is more rewarding now. My teammates accept me and I enjoy our conversations regarding their hopes and dreams for the future. I am very fortunate to play with such a talented group of girls. They are amazing!”

“One of the best things about playing basketball this year is going back to school. I feel like I am progressing and associating with awesome instructors... I am majoring in sociology and psychology so I am taking prerequisites to get into a university program,” she adds.

Morley even finds time to volunteer. “One of my class assignments is to volunteer a few hours a week, so I chose to spend my time in an elementary school classroom with one of my children.”

“I have no regrets. I push as hard as I can. My oldest son just made the Jr. High basketball team. When some of his teammates’ mothers heard I was playing college ball, they asked if I am crazy,” she quipped.

Morley adds “I am so thankful for coaches Paur and Allen who have given me the chance to make this dream a reality, for teammates who encourage me to push harder when running ladders, baby sitters I can trust and depend on and family that is so very supportive.”

Coach Paur says Morley adds to the team. “I’m glad she is fulfilling her dreams, hopes and goals. She always believed if you think you can do something, then do it.”

She’s a better passer now and works harder, Paur added. Besides, how many of us could juggle college, basketball and six kids?