Drawing on the theme of a newly renovated gymnasium, the 2017-18 X-Women basketball team have already shown signs of significant improvement entering a new season. Players did a great job preparing themselves physically and mentally in the off-season as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 1-19 league record last season. The future looks very bright as the entire roster returns after this present season is over.
A key addition to this year's squad is 5'9" Samantha Minicucci from Mississauga, Ont. Samantha played 2½ seasons with the CBU Capers before transferring to StFX. She brings experience and toughness to a team that is still very young. Returning 'veterans' include 2015 AUS rookie of the Year 5'4" Chelsea Provo (East Preston, NS), 6'2" Kendra Smith (North Preston, NS) and local standouts 5'11" Jamie McCarron (New Glasgow, NS) and 5'8" Holly Scott (Antigonish, NS). Scarborough, Ont. native 5'9" Sammie Amoh adds maturity to this group of older players on the roster. All five of these players are set to play significant roles in the resurgence of the X-Women basketball program.
Last year's large rookie class has worked extremely hard preparing for their sophomore campaign. This group includes long-time teammates 6'2" Katie MacIntosh and 6'3" Leah Fahey (Barrie, ON). Five foot six shooter Jessica Miller (Mt Denson, NS) lead the team in scoring last season, while 5'4" Caroline Hrabinski (Toronto, ON), 6'0" Allison Reno (Halifax, NS), plus 5'6" guards Maggie Segeren (Komoko, ON) and Lexy Parkin (St Catherine's, ON) are all looking forward to contributing more to the team the second time around. Parkin sat out last season with a shoulder injury and brings real court savvy to the mix.
The X-Women are topped off with three incoming rookies 5'9" Kim Kingsbury (Nepean, ON), 5'10" Alex MacLean (Bedford, NS) and 5'5" point guard Tania Tesson (Montreal, QC). Kingsbury is a top rated recruit out of Ontario's JUEL league and MacLean is one of the best shooters from Maritime high school basketball last season. Local high school star 5'8" Gemma MacPherson will sit out this season while she recovers fully from an ACL injury.