Lancer Women Looking For Repeat

FOLLOW TOM MORRISON @M_T_Morrison AND NPH @NorthPoleHoops

WINDSOR, ON–The start of another school year is usually met with disdain from pupils of late grade school through high school; then a sense of urgency settles in through college and university, however, the women of the University of Windsor Lancers basketball team are primed and ready for a repeat of last season’s CIS Championship . . . school couldn’t have started soon enough.

The first try-out for the Lancers women was held Monday, September 12 and it was immediately evident that they were loaded with talent in the PG and SG positions with the likes of Mia-Marie Langlois, Emily Abbott and Karissa Williams back in great form.  Karissa and Mia-Marie haven’t missed a beat from last year’s stellar play and if anything, Karissa has improved immensely in the confidence and aggressiveness categories as a result of her Team Canada U19 stint this summer.  Mia-Marie and Raelyn Prince had also been selected to represent Canada at the 2011 FISU World University Games in Shenzhen, China this past August.  Prince will be back with the team for the first quarter of the season helping coach Vallée from the bench.

On the fitness of the returning stars this season coach Vallée stated that “most of the girls had been working hard on court throughout the summer with some of them playing for Team Canada and I’m very happy with their play in our first try-out.  We have a lot of new faces here tonight with a great deal of talent in our guard positions as well as our big girls.” Vallée went on to say “I’m also pleased to have Raelyn (Prince) back with us to help out with our new players until December.  It’s great to see her getting so involved with them.”

The Lancer women will be formidable again this year considering the experience they gained from last year’s championship run and with the numerous award winning Jessica Clemençon back to lead the team, the Lancer women stand a great chance of repeating and defending their 2010/’11 CIS title.

PHOTO COURTESY: JOSH COLM – THE LANCE