YEAR IN REVIEW: UNDEFEATED HAWKS ROLL TO OCAA & CCAA GOLD
The Humber Hawks women's basketball team, ranked number one in the nation in the initial polls way back in October, lived up to the hype as they rolled to OCAA Provincial and CCAA National Gold in undefeated fashion.
Humber swept through OCAA regular season play, setting team records along the way, and winning games by an average of 50 points. Individual award were many, led by Ceejay Nofuente winning her third straight OCAA Player of the Year award. Fifth-year forward Aleena Domingo raked in a number of honours as well, including a first-team all-star nod and defensive player of the year recognition.
In the provincial playoffs, playing on home court in front of boisterous Hawk Nation fans, the Hawks won the three games by an average of almost thirty points. Once again it was Nofuente and Domingo who took the major honours, with Nofuente snaring the championship MVP award.
When the dust settled provincially, Humber had extended its OCAA winning streak to 81 consecutive games.
Prior to the first tip at the 2018 CCAA Nationals, players were recognized at the Awards Banquet. Ceejay Nofuente once again stepped to the front of the pack, already knowing that she was a third-time winner of an All-Canadian award, she also hit the trifecta as the CCAA National Women's Basketball Player of the Year – a first in the sport.
Opening the national tournament provided some ups and downs not experienced by the Humber squad all year. Coming from behind, the Hawks need a last-second shot from Nofuente to knock off a tough MSVU Mystic squad from the ACAA (Atlantic). In the semi-final, Humber also found themselves down to Montmorency (RSEQ – Quebec), but a tremendous effort in the second half made the finish much easier on the team and the hearts of all Hawk fans. The final, against another RSEQ school in Dawson, provided an element of deja-vu. Humber was down early but rallied to take control and win their second national crown in three years, and their third consecutive national medal.
Nofuente and Domingo complete their careers with the title and even more individual accolades. Domingo was a championship first-team all-star and Nofuente snared MVP honours.
Her collegiate career may be over, and she will be remembered as the best ever, but basketball will continue to play a major role in her life. She joined the Canadian National team shortly after and represented the country at the Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Season At a Glance
OCAA Regular Season: 20-0
OCAA Post-Season: 3-0
CCAA Post-Season: 3-0
Overall: 26-0
Leaders
Scoring: Ceejay Nofuente - 17.4 ppg
FG %: Aleena Domingo - 53 %
3pt %: Jahnae Gyles - 36.3 %
FT %: Ceejay Nofuente - 76.3 %
Rebounds: Aleena Domingo - 206
Assists: Ceejay Nofuente - 140
Steals: Ceejay Nofuente - 149
Blocks: Ceejay Nofuente - 27
Team
CCAA Gold
OCAA Gold
OCAA West Division Champions
OCAA Team of the Week x 2
Individual
Ceejay Nofuente
CCAA Championshp MVP
CCAA Player of the Year
CCAA All-Canadian
OCAA Player of the Year
OCAA West Division First Team All-Star
OCAA Championship MVP
OCAA Athlete of the Week x 2
Aleena Domingo
CCAA Championship All-Star
OCAA West Division First Team All-Star
OCAA West Division Defensive Player of the Year
OCAA Championship All-Star
Makeba Taylor
OCAA West Division Second Team All-Star
Leticia Lopez
OCAA Championship All-Star
OCAA Academic All-Star
OCAA Academic All-Star
