Athlete – Basketball
Ebony Rowe Hale was raised in Lexington, KY, by her parents, Nick and Tyra Rowe, alongside her sister, Dominique Wright. Growing up, Ebony was a member of the Central Kentucky Angels AAU basketball team and the Lexington FC soccer team.
As a standout basketball player at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, she earned numerous accolades, including a nomination for the 2010 McDonald’s All-American Game and recognition as the 11th Region Player of the Year by the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches. Averaging 21.0 points and 16.2 rebounds as a senior, she ranked 16th nationally in total rebounds and tied for 28th in rebounding average. Ebony finished her career as the school’s all-time leader in rebounds (1,515), blocked shots (279), and free throws made (331), and became the first player in school history to join the 1,000-point (1,743) and 1,000-rebound club. A two-time First Team All-Kentucky selection and Second Team All-State honoree by the Associated Press, she also shined in postseason play, earning All-District Tournament honors. In 2011, Ebony’s basketball jersey was retired at Paul Laurence Dunbar. Her talents extended beyond basketball—she also competed in track and was recognized twice on the state All-Academic Team. Ebony excelled in the classroom as well, graduating from Paul Laurence Dunbar’s Math, Science, and Technology Center.
A four-year starter and captain at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Ebony finished her collegiate basketball career as one of the most decorated players in school history. She became the first Blue Raider—male or female—to score over 2,000 points and grab over 1,000 rebounds, finishing with career totals of 2,453 points, 1,410 rebounds, and 79 double-doubles. She graduated as the school record holder in 13 categories, including points and rebounds. In her senior year (2013–14), she was named Conference USA Player of the Year, Tournament MVP, and earned All-America Honorable Mention from the AP, Full Court Magazine, and WBCA. That season, she averaged 21.6 points and 11.6 rebounds per game and ranked top 25 nationally in scoring, rebounding, and double-doubles. She was also a three-time Ed Temple Female Amateur Athlete of the Year and Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Female Amateur Athlete of the Year. Throughout her career, she earned 15 conference Player of the Week honors while leading MTSU to a 103-28 record and four NCAA tournaments. Ebony earned All-Conference First Team honors in both the Sun Belt Conference and Conference USA, multiple All-Tournament team selections, and five All-American honors, including Academic All-American.
Off the court, Ebony graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Physics and minors in Engineering Technology and Business Administration. Following her basketball career, she earned a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech. She then transitioned into engineering roles in the aerospace industry. In 2019, Ebony moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, and married her husband, Joshua Hale. Since then, the pair have coached various AZ Fire club basketball teams together. In 2022, Ebony graduated with an MBA from the University of Redlands and currently serves as a Senior Program Manager at Collins Aerospace.
