amber sprague

Women's Basketball

Sprague Reflects on Scholar-Athlete Experience

Former women's basketball standout Amber Sprague to return to campus

When she thinks back on her time as a scholar-athlete at the University of San Diego, memories come flooding back for Amber Sprague.
 
There was the competition, be it the weight room, in practice or basketball games.
 
"Having people surrounded with you every day who would do anything for you, all working toward the same goal," said Sprague, now 32 and a sheriff for the San Diego County's Sheriff's Department.
 
There was the camaraderie.
 
"After a hard practice or weight session, walking over to the deli together, taking over tables, talking practice, then heading off to class together," she said.
 
There were the professors.
 
"They knew everyone on a first-named basis," said Sprague, who majored in Sociology. "They knew our academic staff, the coaching staff. I really enjoyed all my classes and professors."
 
Those memories will come rushing back on Saturday when Sprague and 13 other former Toreros return to Alcala Park for Homecoming and Family Weekend to participate in the women's basketball Alumni Game.
 
San Diego women's basketball has hosted a homecoming reception the past two years. Then a conversation started about an alumni game. Phone calls were made. Former players chomped at the idea to return to the court. Come 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, 90 minutes before the football team kicks off against Marist, the women will once again play inside Jenny Craig Pavilion.
 
Odds are the former players will argue who gets to line up on Sprague's team. Few have played a more integral role to the program's success than the 6-foot-5 forward.
 
Sprague ranks as San Diego's second all-time scorer with 1,728 points. She is also the Toreros' No. 2 rebounder with 868 boards and  ranks No. 3 in blocks with 250.
 
Regarding her name being spread throughout San Diego's record book, Sprague said, "It's a good feeling, but I think records are made to be broken. It's nice to see the younger kids coming through and breaking them."
 
But it's what Sprague helped the Toreros accomplish as a team that left a more indelible memory. Before Sprague's redshirt sophomore season in 2006-07, USD had suffered six straight losing seasons.
 
In 2006-07, USD posted a 21-9 record and advanced to the Women's NIT. The next year, San Diego won the West Coast Conference Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history.
 
The Toreros would go on to post 10 straight winning seasons, earning trips to postseason tournaments seven times.
 
"She's definitely one of the best players to ever play in our conference," said head coach Cindy Fisher. "She was an extremely talented, highly recruited scholar-athlete."
 
Sprague turned down offers from Vanderbilt, Penn State, Arizona State and Cal to play at San Diego. There were two main factors behind her decision to stay close to home.
 
She had two younger brothers who were 4 and 6 years old at the time.
 
"I didn't want to leave and not have a chance to be around them growing up," said Sprague.
 
The second factor had a chance to do with Sprague's potential legacy.
 
"I wanted to go to a program that wasn't as established yet," she said. "I wanted to go somewhere I could make an impact, not somewhere I'd just be another player on the team."
 
After her career at USD, Sprague traveled to Europe and played six seasons of professional basketball, one in Greece, Poland and Germany, and three in the Czech Republic.
 
She took advantage of her time abroad to hop on buses and planes and see the world. Prague was one of her favorite cities.
 
"It was a little bit like a taste of home," Sprague said. "You'd go there and meet people from all over the world. Then if you wanted you could go to TGIF and eat cheeseburgers and chicken wings. When you're away from home for so long you miss the little things. Taking in a small American establishment was special."
 
Sprague has since settled in the San Diego area working with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. She first gave thought to working in criminal justice after an Introductory to Sociology class at USD. As part of the class, she volunteered at a juvenile hall literacy program.
 
"After seeing the kids and talking to correctional officers, I knew what I wanted to do," said Sprague.
 
She still picks up a basketball, playing in a recreational league.
 
"I still think I'm 18 when I'm playing," said Sprague. "I'm still competitive, and I refuse to lose."
 
But she does take certain physical precautions.
 
"I don't want to risk getting hurt," she joked. "I have to show up to work the next day."
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