SEASON PREVIEW: New look women’s basketball team set for season opener

The Gee-Gees women's basketball team have a new look this season. With new leadership and several exciting recruits, the program is looking to cement themselves among the OUA's best once again this season.

The Garnet and Grey open the season at home on Friday, Nov. 5 against York. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. and tickets are on sale at tickets.geegees.ca. The second half of the weekend doubleheader goes Nov. 6 at 2:00 p.m.

"We can't wait for the season to start and play in the OUA, playing against our biggest rivals and showcasing our talent," said Gee-Gees interim head coach Rose-Anne Joly. "Our league will be very tough this year, a lot of teams will be fighting for the top spot."

Joly is back with the program after spending 2020-21 at the NBA Basketball School in Dubai, serving as Coach and Operations Coordinator. Additionally, former Gee-Gees guard Sarah Besselink was brought aboard as the program's full-time assistant coach.

A youth movement was thrust upon the women's team as several key contributors from the 2019-20 roster graduated. Gone are veterans Brooklynn McAlear-Fanus, Tyra Blizzard, Angela Ribarich and Katherine Follis.

Returning starters Brigitte Lefebvre-Okankwu and Natsuki Szczokin will be looked upon to lead Ottawa in 2021-22. The additions of Oksana Gouchie-Provencher (a transfer from Stony Brook University) and Nadine Katumbayi (a recruit from Champlain College Saint-Lambert) are expected to play important roles in their first season in Garnet and Grey.

The Gee-Gees will also benefit from Anne Carr returning from an injury that forced her to miss the 2019-20 campaign.

"It's a great feeling to finally be back playing," said Carr. "The team has been working extremely hard this past year and I'm looking forward to seeing us put it all together on the court."

Ottawa enjoyed a successful preseason that saw them go 4-1 with wins against Laval, McGill, Concordia and UQAM. Lefebvre-Okankwu was into double figures in each game and posted two double-doubles.

"I think we went through what most teams are going through at the moment: return to play after a long break and small injuries," said Joly when summing up the preseason. "We just have to remind ourselves that it is a long season and we have to keep working towards our long-term goals." 

The 2021-22 season sees the Gee-Gees play a circuit of 16 games against eight OUA East opponents, including their traditional rivals the Carleton Ravens and the Rams. The jewel of the schedule is the Capital Hoops Classic, which takes place Friday, Feb. 18 at the Arena at TD Place. 

The Critelli Cup playoffs get underway in late February, and the 2022 U SPORTS Women's Basketball Final 8 is taking place Mar. 10-13 at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont.