Ashley Piper was a member of a talented senior class on the Cedar Rapids Washington basketball team last season that sent four players to college teams.

Tia Dawson, the star center, went to Dartmouth. Alissa Oney, the point guard, went to Maryville. Janay Pritchett, a top reserve, went to William Penn. Piper, a wing player, went to Colorado Christian.

They're all playing college basketball as freshmen - one of them in New Hampshire (Dawson), one of them in Missouri (Oney), one of them in Iowa (Pritchett) and one of them in Colorado (Piper).

Colorado Christian is located in Lakewood, Colo., not far from Denver. "I like it. It's awesome," said Piper.

Piper, a 5-foot-10 guard, has started all 11 games for Colorado Christian and is averaging 7.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 assist. She's shooting 43.3 percent from the field, 36.7 percent on 3-pointers and 88.9 percent at the foul line.

"I think I've been playing all right, but it could be better," she said.

Colorado Christian did not announce its starting lineup for the season opener in advance and Piper was delighted to hear her name. "I was surprised," she said.

Piper scored a season-high 16 points against Cal Lutheran and 12 points against Colorado Mines.

Dawson has started all 10 games at Dartmouth and is averaging 6.4 points and 6.2 rebounds with 23 blocked shots. Oney has played in all nine games at Maryville and is averaging 4.6 points. Pritchett has appeared in 10 of 14 games (with one start) and is averaging 4.7 points at William Penn.

Cedar Rapids Washington compiled a 19-4 record last season and reached the Class 4A state tournament, but all four of the college freshmen are playing with teams with losing records. Dartmouth is 2-8, Maryville is 3-6, William Penn is 3-11 and Colorado Christian is 3-8.