The future looks bright for the York Lions women's basketball team as the backcourt duo of Katrina Collins-Samuels and Sandra Nagowska were named to the Ontario University Athletics all-rookie team on Monday (Mar. 7) as part of the OUA's year end awards.
 
After a torn ACL derailed what could have been Collins-Samuels rookie season last year, the Hamilton, Ont., native showed she's back at full strength with a solid freshman season for the Lions. The lightning quick guard moved into a starting role with the Lions towards the end of the season and finished the year ranked second on the team with 8.2 points per game while also averaging 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists. She put up a career-high 21 points early in the season against Laurentian, and Lions head coach Erin McAleenan thinks the best is yet to come for Collins-Samuels.
 
"Kat has had a very good first season with us, showing strengths at both ends of the court," said McAleenan. "She is one of the best on ball defenders I have seen in the league and consistently matched up against the opposition's point guard. At the offensive end, she used her quickness to attack the basket and draw fouls and got to the free throw line more than any of her teammates.  She was able to convert an impressive 74% from the line in her rookie season and I am really looking forward to seeing Kat's growth and development over the off-season."
 
Like her teammate, Nagowska began the season coming off the bench but had moved into the starting lineup by the end of the season. The 5'8" guard from Peterborough, Ont., finished the season ranked fourth on the Lions in points per game (6.5) and first in assists per game (1.7) She also showed she's a strong rebounding guard, ranking third on the team in rebounds per game (5.2). Coach McAleenan sees the point guard as a future leader for the Lions, both in the locker room and on the court.
 
"Sandra has been a pleasant surprise to our team this season," said McAleenan. "Her ability to find her teammates for easy scoring opportunities at the rim, as well as some fancy behind the back passes, has been a big asset for us. She is a fierce competitor, and on many occasions this season she has made things happen when we needed a lift. She is a great rebounding guard, and her tenacity at the defensive end led to a lot of steals. Sandra's ability to push the ball as the point guard really helped us increase our pace and find more scoring opportunities in transition. I can't wait to see how her game improves going into next season."
 
With a strong recruiting class coming in next season and only one graduating player off this season's roster, the rebuilding Lions will be a young, exciting team to watch next year when play begins in the 2016-17 season.
 
OUA Major Award Winners
 
Player of the Year: Keneca Pingue-Giles – Ryerson Rams
Defensive Player of the Year: Keneca Pingue-Giles – Ryerson Rams
Rookie of the Year: Julia Curran – Western Mustangs
Joy Bellinger Award: Abena Addo – Toronto Varsity Blues
Tracy McLeod Award: Krista van Slingerland – Ottawa Gee-Gees
Coach of the Year: Andy Sparks – Ottawa Gee-Gees
 
OUA First-Team All-Stars
 
Keneca Pingue-Giles – Ryerson Rams
Sofia Paska – Ryerson Rams
Jenny Wright – Queen's Gaels
Robyn Pearson – Queen's Gaels
Heather Lindsay – Carleton Ravens
Nicole Morrison – Laurier Golden Hawks
Danielle Boiago – McMaster Marauders
Kellie Ring – Ottawa Gee-Gees
Mackenzie Puklicz – Western Mustangs
Cheyanne Roger – Windsor Lancers
 
OUA Second-Team All-Stars
 
Bridget Atkinson – Guelph Gryphons
Kate MacTavish – Guelph Gryphons
Melissa Tatti – Brock Badgers
Elizabeth LeBlanc – Carleton Ravens
Clare Kenney – McMaster Marauders
Julia Soriano – Ottawa Gee-Gees
Catherine Traer – Ottawa Gee-Gees
Rahsida Atkinson – Toronto Varsity Blues
Caroline Wolynski – Western Mustangs
Emily Prevost – Windsor Lancers
 
OUA All-Rookie Team
 
Sandra Nagowska – York Lions
Katrina Collins-Samuels – York Lions
Chrissy Sirignano – Brock Badgers
Abbey Clark – Guelph Gryphons
Irena Rynkiewicz – Laurier Golden Hawks
Alexe Galipeau-Wilson – Nipissing Lakers
Myriam Fontaine – Queen's Gaels
Keyira Parkes – Toronto Varsity Blues
Julia Curran – Western Mustangs
Kaylee Anagnostopoulous – Windsor Lancers