Atlanta, Georgia-native and fifth-year Lakehead guard Jylisa Williams was named recipient of the Nan Copp Award as national player of the year. Williams was named OUA player of the year and a first-team conference all-star. The former Georgia State star had been played a year at Olds College in 2012-13, earning the CCAA player of the year award. She averaged 28.8 ppg for the Thunderwolves to lead the country. She set a new OUA scoring record when she tossed in 50 in a win over Toronto. The sociology student also set a single-season OUA mark this year with 548 points in 19 league games. She finished first in the nation in points (548), field goals made (198), free throws made (150) and steals (76), and ranked fifth in defensive rebounds (135), seventh in rebounds (177) and rebounds per game (9.3), as well as ninth in field goal percentage (54.1). She was 7th in the OUA in assists (3.4 apg). She led the T-Wolves take second place in the OUA Central standings with a 14-5 mark. “I’ve never coached an athlete like Jylisa,” said Thunderwolves coach Jon Kreiner. “She’s a once in a lifetime type of player, who is not only amazing on her own, but involves her teammates and elevates their game to higher levels.” Other nominees included Dalhousie guard Courtney Thompson, McGill forward Mariam Sylla and UBC guard Kris Young.
Windsor point guard Korissa Williams was named defensive player of the year. Williams led the Lancers to their fifth straight CIS crown and their seventh straight OUA West title with a 19-1 record. The 5-9 business student anchored the nation’s fourth-ranked defence (53.2 points per game), was second in the country in steals (64, 3.6 spg) and tied for the team lead in rebounding (7.0 per game) and invariably defended the foe’s top offensive threat. She averaged 19.3 ppg, third in the CIS, and led the Lancers in assists per game (4.7 apg). She was also named a first-team all-Canadian. “I am so proud of Korissa following into her ‘big sister’ Miah’s [Miah-Marie Langlois, a three-time national defensive player of the year] footsteps,” said Lancers coach Chantal Vallée. “There’s no doubt that Korissa has helped our team at both ends of the floor and to see her earn a CIS major award for her defensive work is outstanding.” The other nominees were guards Kennisha Shanice-Luberisse of Saint Mary’s, Quételine Célestin of UQAM and Stephanie Kleysen of Winnipeg.
Guelph guard Bridget Atkinson was named recipient of the Kathy Shields Award as national rookie of the year. The Welland, Ont., native and point guard finished third in the OUA and sixth in the country in assists (4.5 apg), while scoring 10.9 ppg and nabbing 5.3 rpg. A tenacious on-the-ball defender, the sociology student often defended the foe’s top threat, while notching 32 steals and 7 blocks, and averaged 5.3 rpg. Atkinson was the OUA rookie of the year and a second-team all-star selection. “Bridget has had a tremendous impact on our program as a freshman. Her passion for the game combined with her coachability make her extremely valuable,” said Gryphons coach Christin Dickenson. “She is a very strong leader, but does so with a great deal of humility. It is a great honour for her to be recognized by the country alongside the other outstanding nominees.” The other nominees were Saint Mary’s guard Kennisha Shanice-Luberisse, Laval wing Jane Gagné and Victoria guard Amira Giannattasio.
Windsor coach Chantal Vallée earned her second consecutive Peter Ennis Award as coach of the year. In her 10th campaign at the helm, Vallée guided her troops to a CIS-best 19-1 regular season record and their seventh consecutive OUA West title. The Lancers ranked first in the country in points scored per game (80.5), field goal percentage (48.4) and three-point FG percentage (37.0%), were second in rebound margin per contest (+12.0) and finished fourth in overall defence (53.4 ppg). “The University of Windsor congratulates Coach Vallée on her second consecutive selection as the CIS coach of the year,” said athletic director Mike Havey. “Chantal’s record of accomplishment and incredible team achievement are certainly worthy of this recognition. Her program has been a source of great pride and inspiration for our University.” The other nominees were Dalhousie’s Anna Stammberger, McGill’s Ryan Thorne and Thompson Rivers’ Scott Reeves.
Joining the two Williams’ on the All-Canadian first team were Kris Young (UBC); Mariam Sylla (McGill) and Courtney Thompson (Dalhousie). …………………………………………………… Young, a fifth-year guard and arts student from North Vancouver Handsworth, was chosen Canada West player of the year for the second time in three years after averaging 18.0 ppg (fourth in the league). It was her third all-Canadian selection, having earned first-team laurels in 2013 and 2nd-team selection in 2014. In league play, Young was also 16th in rebounds per outing (6.8) and 17th in assists (55). She was also third in the Canada West in field goals made (133), 11th in blocks (15) and 16th in steals (35). “Kris has been integral to the success of our team. She has been a tremendous leader on and off the court and consistently performs in every facet of the game. This year beyond the past four, she has found another level and makes her teammates better while she demands the best effort from herself and her teammates. Kris has had an outstanding university basketball career and is very deserving of being named Canada West Player of the Year. It has been a privilege to coach Kris over the past five seasons,” said UBC coach Deb Huband. …………………………………………………… Sylla, a 3rd-year 6-1 forward and pharmacology major from Conakry, Guinea, was named RSEQ player of the year after averaging 12.4 ppg and leading the league in rebounds with 10.9 rpg. She also hit .430 from the floor. It was her second consecutive all-Canadian first-team selection. …………………………………………………… Thompson, a 5th-year 5-9 guard and commerce student from Saint John, N.B., was chosen AUS player of the year after averaging 23.9 ppg to lead the league (and 2nd in the nation) in scoring. Her 478 total points this season set a new Dalhousie school record and place her sixth in the AUS all-time record books for single season points. She also finishes tied for 11th in career points in the AUS record books with 1,498. She was also a first-team AUS all-star, hitting .512 from the floor (second in the league) and .870 from the line. She was also fourth in the league in assists (63,), while pilfering 30 balls. “It’s wonderful to see Courtney Thompson being rewarded with this honour after five outstanding seasons,” said Tigers coach Anna Stammberger. “She competed and performed at a very consistent and high level every minute on the court of the 100 league games she dressed in (while starting in 95 of them). She’s mentally and physically tough, competes and is focused every minute on the court. She is an exceptional scorer and loves to distribute the ball; a true court general.”
The All-Canadian second team featured Saskia Van Ginhoven (Alberta); Whitney Ellenor (Wilfrid Laurier); Quételine Célestin (Universite du Quebec @ Montreal); Dalyce Emmerson (Saskatchewan); and Sarah Wierks (Fraser Valley). …………………………………………………… Van Ginhoven, a 4th-year phys ed student and 6-1 forward from Edmonton, was a first-team Canada West all-star after averaging 16.7 ppg. …………………………………………………… Ellenor, a 5th-year history major from Pickering, Ont., averaged 15.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg (fifth in the conference) and led the OUA in blocks with 2.2 bpg. She hit. 465 from the floor while helping lead the Golden Hawks to a 17-3 record. …………………………………………………… Célestin, a 3rd-year administration major from Cayenne, France, was a first-team RSEQ all-star and the league’s defensive player of the year for the second consecutive season. She led the RSEQ in steals with 3.5 per game. …………………………………………………… Emmerson, a 4th-year kinesiology student from Prince Albert, Sask., was a first-team Canada West all-star after averaging 13.3 ppg and 8.8 rpg. She’d been selected a first-team all-Canadian in 2014. …………………………………………………… Wierks, a 5th-year kinesiology student from Chilliwack, B.C., was a first-team Canada West all-star after averaging 19.2 ppg and 15.4 rpg.
Joining Atkinson on the all-rookie team were Amira Giannattasio (Victoria); Kennisha Shanice-Luberisse (Saint Mary’s); Michelle Bos (Thompson Rivers); and Jane Gagné (Laval). …………………………………………………… Giannattasio, a social sciences student from Hamilton, Ont., averaged 12.0 ppg and hit .429 (36-84) from beyond the arc. She was selected Canada West rookie of the year and a first-team AUS all-star. “Amira has incredible instincts on the floor and is the definition of a pure scorer,” said Vikes coach Dani Sinclair. “She came to our team with a lot of experience but is a tireless worker who spends hours in the gym and continues to get better every day.” …………………………………………………… Shanice-Luberisse, a commerce student and 5-7 guard from Montreal, Que., averaged 12.2 ppg (fourth in the conference) and was chosen AUS rookie of the year and defensive player of the year. She led the AUS in steals with 50 and notched 74 defensive rebounds, 65 offensive boards (3rd in the AIS), and 62 assists (fifth in the AUS). “Kennisha has done a great job on defence for us this year,” said Huskies coach Scott Munro. “She has guarded the other team’s top perimeter threat almost every night. She plays on the defensive end with a tremendous amount of energy and never seems to get tired, and takes a tremendous amount of pride in doing all of the little things. She has certainly been one of the keys to our league-leading defence this season. Kennisha has been among the AUS leaders this season in, scoring, rebounding, assists, and field goal percentage. She was also the league leader in steals and minutes played. This is quite an accomplishment for a first-year player. She has certainly had an impact in every game for us this year. Kennisha is a complete player who plays with a relentless work ethic night in and night out.” …………………………………………………… Bos, a science student from Surrey, B.C., averaged 11.5 ppg and 11.3 rpg and was chosen to the Canada West all-rookie team. …………………………………………………… Gagné, a chemistry student from Chicoutimi, Que., and was chosen RSEQ rookie of the year after averaging 10.3 ppg. She finished in the league in free throw shooting with an average of .844.