Pennsville’s Ausland excited about playing basketball again, signs to play with Salem CC
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
Before the start of her senior season Pennsville’s Nora Ausland wasn’t sure she wanted to play basketball after high school. It hadn’t been fun for a while. Her plan was to go to Salem Community College and just be a regular student. If the spirit moved her, she might walk-on.
Then the season got going and the spark started to flicker. The Salem CC option was still there, but the idea of playing didn’t catch until Mighty Oaks coach Brian Marsh started showing interest. She liked what she was hearing and now she’s going to Salem as a full-fledged member of its women’s basketball team.
Ausland became the first signee of Marsh’s 2025 signing class Monday when the paperwork she signed over the weekend became official.
“He was just talking to me about basketball and the season and how he really wanted me to come; that influenced more,” Ausland said. “I’m definitely more excited to play this year. In previous seasons I haven’t really cared to play that much, but this year I am excited to play. I’m ready for a big change.”
The last time Ausland truly enjoyed playing, she said, was her freshman year at Salem. She played two years for the Rams, then transferred to Pennsville for her last two years in high school. She played this past season for her original coach, Steve Merritt, and averaged 12.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
She scored 1,147 career points, hit 147 3-pointers, grabbed 622 rebounds and had 133 blocked shots despite missing 14 games her sophomore year, but instead of playing half-heartedly and letting those conflicted feelings permeate the team she was content to retire from the game.
“I didn’t have, like, the right attitude and didn’t want to bring that on to his team,” she said. “I’ve definitely changed. I used to love the game and now I’m excited to play again.”
And Marsh is excited to have her on board as seeks to have “shooters all over the floor” while replacing four starters from last year’s 11-13 team. Ausland is the fourth player from Salem County to sign with the women’s program since its revival two years ago. Signing local players is an important element of Marsh’s recruiting plan.
“I think it’s extremely important; it’s exactly what I’m trying to do,” Marsh said. “I’m trying to convince these local players that they don’t have to go away to play big-time college basketball.
“I said to Nora and some of my recruits, I want these local players to help take us to the national rankings. I want them to be able to say I can go to Salem and can play. You saw the teams we play; they’re nationally ranked. You’re playing really good college basketball in front of your friends and family, that’s exactly what we’re trying to do.”
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