Recap The Court

Jacob Smith

The Brock Badgers women’s basketball team has been a top four team in the OUA the last four years. Starting with back-to-back OUA championship appearances winning one of them, and a semifinals appearance the last two years. Led by MVP candidate Madalyn Weinert and one of the best forwards in the league in Oluwatito Akinnusi, the focus for the Badgers has been the evolution of the pieces around them.

Going into a year led by new coaching in head coach Shae Dheensaw and her assistant staff, Madalyn and Oluwatito return with much of the veteran group around them in Olivia Fiorucci, Madison MacInnis and Allison Addy. Flanked by a large group of second and third year players, the Badgers additions to an experienced squad with a new voice gives them a shot to compete amongst the top of the OUA that has seen a lot of change.

Outside of Madalyn and Oluwatito, the step forward Angeline Campbell took throughout last year is great for the Badgers as she comes back for another year. Her three-point shooting ability and her confidence to take her shots will be needed especially in the absence of Noor Bazzi who was one of the Badgers top shooters last year. Playing as the 2/3 with Shailah and Madalyn will give Angeline a lot of chances to play off the catch and use the off-ball movement the Badgers have found a lot of success with to get her the ball in her spots.

Shailah Adams, a 5’5″ second year guard from Welland Ontario is someone who will have a great shot at the starting point guard spot for the Badgers. She started their preseason game against the UBC Thunderbirds at home playing 25 minutes.

Covering the four position, the Badgers primary two options look like they’ll be Allison Addy and Olivia Fiorucci. Allison and Olivia are players entering their fourth and fifth years in the Badgers program and over those four years the development in both their games opens and opportunity with more minutes this year for a larger impact.

Throughout last year we saw Olivia’s three-point shooting play a bigger and bigger role in what she brings on the court. Going with her catch-and-go ability along the baseline using her length to finish around contact, her three-point shot gives the Badgers more versatility and another player like Madalyn who can attack in many different ways off the catch, putting more stress on the defence.

Allison has had a three-point shot since she started with the Badgers program. What has been really promising for Allison is her growing confidence to take her shot and attack weaknesses in the defence that she notices. Taking what the defences are giving her and being comfortable to let a shot off if it’s in her range has really grown over her years in the program. Now she is looking at more minutes and a bigger opportunity being a veteran on the roster who’s used to playing with Madalyn, Oluwatito and the others on the roster.

What has set the Badgers apart the last three years outside of star performances has been their team defence. They’ve been one of the better defensive teams in the OUA causing turnovers and getting on the glass, and that’s where the young players can really make their mark as they get adjusted to where they’re at in the rotation and how they fit into the offensive side of the ball.

Now going into her third year, Aleksija Vukovic emerged in her first year in limited minutes as someone who can help relieve Oluwatito and Madison MacInnis. Now with more time in the program, her rebounding to help keep the Badgers edge inside will be something to keep an eye on as they look to establish their depth.

Jamie Addy, a 5’8 guard going into her second year was the third leading rebounder in the Badgers preseason game against UBC. With four steals and five rebounds, her ability to generate extra possessions as someone high in the rotation will be very important to generate offence within the bench unit.

Under new leadership on the bench but with a group a veterans who’ve been to the biggest stages, the Badgers need to find consistency while they adjust to a new voice. Looking to their cornerstones in Madalyn and Oluwatito gives them two consistent solid performances every game and the bigger opportunity relied upon players like Angeline Campbell, Olivia Fiorucci and Allison Addy gives the Badgers an opportunity grow on the success they’ve had recently and hit the ground running in the new era.