"Balance is the key to program improvement"
After a disappointing 2014-15 season where the St Francis Xavier X-Women did not make the playoffs at the ScotiaBank Center in Halifax, an emphasis on 'balance' is the key to returning to competing in the championship game as they did in 2012-13 and 2013-14. With seven returning players and seven new faces, this balance starts with a mix of veteran players and enthusiastic rookies.
This year's team will be lead by two former second team AUS all-stars Kolbi Roper (6'2" North Vancouver, BC) and Lindsay Lessard (6'0" Waterloo, ON). After an injury-plagued fourth season, Kolbi is looking forward to an outstanding fifth year. When healthy, her inside-outside versatility and athleticism is a difficult match-up for opposing teams. Lindsay is coming off her best season in 2014-15 where she was third in the AUS in scoring (15.5 points per game), fourth in free throw shooting (81%) and seventh in rebounding (7.0 per game). She will be looking to challenge for the league MVP title in this her fourth year of eligibility.
Adding to the all-around talent of Roper and Lessard are three emerging contributors in Courtney Kilyk (5'7" FontHill, ON), Kayla MacIntyre (Sydney, NS) and Shannon Hatch (5'11" Arzo, Switzerland). All three will receive their coveted graduation 'X-ring' this December along with Lessard. Courtney has worked extremely hard on her offensive game, which she plans to showcase this season. She is already one of the best on-the-ball defenders in the AUS.
Kayla also had a productive off-season, improving her outside shooting skills significantly. She is primed for increased minutes and a larger role on this season's squad. Shannon is also graduating this season, yet she is only in her third year of CIS eligibility. She was named a team captain and has played with increased confidence and intensity since the start of the pre-season.
The seven newcomers are lead by two experienced transfer players in Marcy Robinson (5'7" Bastrop, LA) and Korenda Colley (5'9" Dartmouth, NS). Marcy has been on campus since the beginning of the summer and adds NCAA experience to the X-Women roster. Korenda has a high basketball IQ and is a great 'locker room' teammate who helps a lot with team chemistry.
The five remaining high school graduates represent a very solid recruiting class for the X-Women program. Kendra Smith (6'2" North Preston, NS) and Chelsea Provo (5'3" East Preston, NS) both come to X from Auburn High School in Dartmouth, NS. Both players come with a solid high school resume and strong basketball family connections. Kendra's older brother Shaquille is a star for the Acadia Axemen and Chelsea's older brother Davonte is the starting point guard for the StFX X-Men.
Courtney Bulman (5'9" Moncton, NB) led Bernice MacNaughton HS to the provincial championship last year at Harbor Station in St. John, NB. Courtney is a very smart and versatile player, similar to former X-Women all-star Lia St Pierre (who also graduated from Bernice MacNaughton HS). Jamie McCarron (5'11" New Glasgow, NS) and Holly Scott (5'7" Antigonish, NS) are two players who are considered 'home grown'. Both Jamie (North Nova Education Center) and Holly (Dr J H Gillis HS) led local schools deep into the provincial basketball championships last season in Wolfville, NS. Both have a very bright future playing in front of their friends and family at the StFX Oland Center.
This year's X-Women are hoping to combine their veteran experience and youthful energy to guide them back to the AUS women's basketball championship which are being held at The ScotiaBank Center in Halifax along side the men's playoffs for a second consecutive year. AUS regular season play begins on Friday, November 6th when StFX visits the UPEI Panthers. The X-Women's first home game is Friday, November 13th when they will host Acadia at 6:00 pm.