By Mike Still
The 2016-17 season was a year of development for the women’s basketball team, with 10 of 14 players in either their first or second years of eligibility. The squad finished the campaign out of the playoffs at 3-17, however they were competitive in every game, and improved as a unit down the stretch.
Rookies Robertha Charles and Michele Tchiakoua out of Montreal’s Dawson College led an impressive crop of recruits for the Tigers. Charles started in all 16 games that she played in, while Tchiakoua played in all 20 games, starting 13.
According to head coach Anna Stammberger, Charles was “a key pivot” in the Tigers offence. She finished as the team’s leading scorer with 9.1 points per game and was third on the squad with 5.6 rebounds per game. The physical forward was rewarded for her efforts at the end of the season with an AUS all-rookie team selection.
Upon coming to the Tigers, Tchiakoua was tasked with playing point guard for the first time in her career. She responded well, becoming an invaluable two-way player, finishing as the team leader in rebounds per game, with six.
Fellow first-year players Claire Hickman and Karina May also showed great potential for the future, coming on strong at the end of the year specifically. Hickman, a post, played in all 20 games, starting in eight, while May, a forward, also suited up in every contest, starting in five.
Stammberger was pleased with the progression of all four of her rookie athletes, specifically Hickman and May.
“Claire improved leaps and bounds from the first half of the season where she averaged taking one shot per game to finishing the second semester averaging 4.6 points per game and shooting 43 percent,” she says.
“Karina was a positive surprise with her great jump shot and ability to defend and rebound. I’m really excited about the next four years together with all of them!”
Three of the team’s veterans entering the season also made critical improvements to their game, which bodes well for next year.
Despite battling a shoulder injury all season, guard Shalyn Field still managed to start 15 games. The lone fourth-year player also led the team in steals per game, with 2.4.
Third-years Ashley Cain and Diedre Alexander also came up big at the post and guard positions, respectively.
“Ashley came back in the fall in great shape and had obviously worked hard to improve her fitness and her game over the summer. She was our best free throw shooter, finishing the season with 83 percent accuracy,” says Stammberger.
Alexander was tasked with an increased leadership role and was the only player to start in and play all 20 games.
“Diedre improved her three-point shot and helped us stretch the defence,” says Stammberger. “She did a better job of finding her open teammates on her attacks and improved in the backcourt against pressure.”
Second-year shooting guard Sophie Gaube cracked the Tigers all-time top 10 in three-pointers made (5th) and three-point shooting percentage (6th).