Coming off an 8-10 season, the Niagara Knights women's basketball program is looking to improve upon last year's result. By virtue of hosting the OCAA Championship, the Knights earned a bye through the first round of the season and closed out the 2015-16 season with a consolation championship.
The Knights will once again be led by returning players such as OCAA First-Team All-Star and Knights leading scorer Courtney McPherson (Welland), and veteran guards Brooke-Lyn Murdoch (Welland) and Alyssa McCabe (Niagara Falls). Also returning to the lineup is Mary Ingribelli (St. Catharines), who missed the entire 2015-16 season due to injury. Ingribelli worked extremely hard throughout the offseason, and is ready to make a significant impact in her return to the Niagara lineup. She is a shooter that gives the Knights an increased threat from the perimeter, while adding a veteran presence on the floor and the bench.
Alongside the veteran's, this year's additions should lead to a much improved, more athletic squad than was featured last season. The off-season addition of guards Xuan Nguyen-Marshell (Scarborough) and Hope Brown (Brampton), as well as forwards Kim Shephard (Woodstock) and transfer Breanne VandeVen (Delhi) will produce team depth that can play at a high pace for 40 minutes.
Head Coach Mike Beccaria believes the additions to the roster provide some much needed depth that was lacking down the stretch last season. "We are a faster, deeper team than last season," Beccaria said of his roster. "The vets are older and wiser, the sophomores have improved throughout the off-season, and the rookies have added some energy and optimism." Collectively, the team is poised to improve at both ends of the floor this season.
With a mix of outside scoring threat and inside presence of players like McPherson should lead to an offensive surge for Niagara. Through their eight pre-season games the Knights have averaged nearly 78 points per contest, far exceeding their regular season average of 66 through the regular season last year. Despite the strong offensive numbers, Niagara's focus will be on the defensive end of the floor this season.
"As coaches, we have placed an increased focus on defence, discipline, and rebounding," said coach Beccaria. "We feel that if we stayed focused and dedicated to the process, we will improve in both the regular season and the playoffs."
Niagara kicks off the regular season tomorrow night against the Sheridan Bruins. Tipoff is scheduled for 6pm at Sheridan's Davis Campus. The Knights will travel to Mohawk on October 29th before returning home for the 2nd Annual Blue & White Home Opener on November 3rd. The home opener will see a packed gymnasium on hand to support the Knights against the defending OCAA Champion Humber Hawks.
