It's been an exciting and busy off-season for the Niagara College women's basketball program and head coach Mike Beccaria. Coach Beccaria has been hard at work, scouting, recruiting, and successfully signing several players for the upcoming 2015-16 OCAA season.
Beccaria's latest effort has paid off with the addition of Hailey Newham, a 5-2 point guard from Merlin, ON.
Newham has been a five-year player for Blenheim District High School, winning three most valuable player awards along the way. While leading her team in scoring this past season, Newham was also a key component of Blenheim's rugby and volleyball teams.
"Hailey is a highly competitive person," said head coach Mike Beccaria. "She excels in multiple sports and will bring a great work ethic to our program. We look forward to adding another gifted student and talented athlete to our roster."
"I was told that Niagara College has one of the best police foundations programs in the province," said Newham, when asked why she chose Niagara. "I also had a light workout with some of the girls on the team and saw that this program is headed in the right direction."
With veteran point guard Alyssa McCabe (Niagara Falls) returning for her third season as a Knight, the addition of Newham creates an extremely deep roster, something coach Beccaria says will benefit his program this season and into the future.
"It will be a highly competitive situation for our program this coming season," added coach Beccaria. "Adding another guard to our roster will keep the level of competition high in practice and will provide strength for this position in the future."
Newham is the fifth incoming student-athlete to be announced by the Niagara College women's basketball program so far this summer. Marina Painco (Oakville), Liana Hughes (Oakville), Brooke-Lyn Murdoch (Welland), and Emily Naccarato (St. Catharines) will join Newham as first-year Knights for the 2015-16 OCAA season.
The Knights will open the 2015-16 season with the annual Peninsula Hoop Classic being held act Brock University. This marks the sixth year for the event, an annual exhibition showdown between the Niagara Knights and Brock Badgers men's and women's basketball programs. Tip-off is set for September 26th at 3:00pm.
