BY GARY HAWKINS

Staff Writer

Five years ago, as a senior at Cony High School, Ashley Underwood was a finalist for Miss Maine Basketball.

Last weekend in Portland, she won a statewide title of another sort when she was crowned Miss Maine USA. The victory over 12 contestants from around the state qualifies Underwood for the nationally televised Miss USA Pageant in Las Vegas on April 19.

"It was my first pageant," Underwood said. "I love watching them, but I never had a chance to do them, because of basketball."

The pageant was held Friday and Saturday at the Eastland Park Hotel and consisted of an opening number, swimsuit and evening-gown competition, an interview with each of the five judges and a final on-stage question.

"If I had to pick one thing, there was something about the way she commanded attention on stage," said pageant director Mackenzie Davis, a Miss Maine USA winner in 2004. "She had a really positive vibe to her the whole weekend."

Underwood always has performed well in front of crowds -- both at Cony, where she scored more than 1,000 career points; and later at the University of Maine. She topped 1,000 points at Maine, too, and is 10th on the school's all-time scoring list. A 5-foot-8 guard, she was one of the top three-point shooters in the America East Conference.

Underwood, 23, graduated with a nursing degree, but put that career on hold last fall to pursue a professional basketball career in Switzerland. She lives in Benton with her parents and works as a school nurse at three schools -- Lawrence High, Albion Elementary and Fairfield Primary.

"It's awesome," she said. "I think I've found my niche in nursing. I love kids."

Davis plans to accompany Underwood on her trip to Las Vegas and help her prepare for the pageant.

"You have to mentally prepare for basketball," Underwood said. "The same thing goes for pageants. It takes as much hard work."

Underwood said she has changed her diet and nutritional habits totally and will undergo a rigorous exercise program to remain fit. The winner of the Miss USA title receives a year's salary, an apartment in New York City and the opportunity to compete in the Miss Universe pageant.

"Being from a small state, you need to have something that sets you apart," Underwood said. "I want to represent Maine as best I can."

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com