REIGNING DIVISION CHAMPS SET TO HOST MOHAWK IN HOME OPENER
The Humber Hawks Women's Basketball Team will open the 2014/15 season this Thursday when they host the Mohawk Mountaineers in the Humber Athletic Centre.
The Hawks are coming off an impressive season that saw them capture the Western Division crown thanks to a 16-2 regular season in which they outscored opponents by over fifteen points per game and boasted the division's stingiest defense. The team dominated the glass to the tune of nearly thirteen more rebounds per game than opponents, and were among the provinces best in terms of both assist rate and field goal percentage. The blue and gold will be buoyed by the return of star point guard Cassandra Nofuente, who missed all but five games last year with a lower body injury, along with the arrival a few of the provinces top recruits.
Before her injury, Cassandra was off to an incredible start last year; she had clearly established herself as one of the best players in the province. In the season's first five games, she was averaging fifteen points per game, nearly six assists and five steals, elite stats for the do-it-all guard. While her return to health solidifies the point guard position, there are other crucial cogs whose improvement could prove equally important.
Along with Nofuente's return to the court, Aleena Domingo and Natalie Hagopian figure to form the team's core. Domingo put up over thirteen points per game while shooting an efficient 54 percent, and averaged 7.6 rebounds a game. Hagopian was a jack of all trades, averaging nearly eight points, 4.5 rebounds, two assists and a steal. Their continued improvement should bode well for a team with an impressive set of guards with a diverse skillset, and it's quite possible they will form deepest backcourt in the OCAA.
In terms of incoming talent, Sasha Bertusa and Llyandra Kerr will lead the way for an impressive freshmen class. Kerr is a bruising low post player whose inside-outside game should mix well with the Hawks strong rebounding front line, while Bertusa's ability to hit from beyond the arc should help spread opposing defenses thin. Other key freshmen include stretch three Kayla Henry and point guard Khadijah Henry; Humber appears poised to have a deep rotation.
Tip-off is set for 6pm on Thursday night, check back for updates throughout the night.
For 2013/14 standings, statistics, schedules and more please visit http://www.ocaa.com/sports/wbkb/2013-14/standings-include.