Veteran-led 精童欲女 Women鈥檚 Basketball Panthers eye championship glory in 2024鈥25
Fuelled by a veteran core determined to leave their mark, the 精童欲女 Women鈥檚 Basketball Panthers is a team built to compete for a title in 2024鈥25.
With years of experience, the Panthers are poised to make their strongest push yet as they embrace what could be their final chance to capture a title together.
One of the things going in the Panthers鈥 favour is their balanced roster. Offensively, they are a versatile group that can attack in multiple ways. Fifth-year guard Lauren Rainford stands out as the team鈥檚 elite scorer, capable of creating her own shot and finishing at all three levels. Her scoring prowess is complemented by sharpshooter Devon Lawlor, who can stretch defences with her three-point shooting.
Lawlor, a leader on and off the court, has made it clear that this is the season where everything must come together.
鈥淭his is the last season for a number of our core players, so yes, we want to get it done this year,鈥 said Lawlor, who鈥檚 entering her fourth season. 鈥淲e鈥檙e feeling confident. The preseason showed us that we can compete with the best teams in the country, and we鈥檙e ready to carry that into the season.鈥
Rookie point guard Naki Alonzo is another key player for the Panthers, bringing a traditional point guard skill set that emphasizes ball distribution and playmaking. And Abby Miller, a fifth-year transfer from Mount Allison, provides a physical low-post presence. Her ability to rebound, defend, and score in the paint will be essential as the Panthers look to be unpredictable on the offensive end.
Karla Benitez's versatility adds an exciting dimension to the Panthers. Making her highly anticipated debut after returning from injury, Benitez is a jack-of-all-trades player who can contribute in multiple ways, whether it鈥檚 scoring, rebounding, passing, or providing energy on defence. Her return adds another dynamic element to an already deep roster that includes Samantha Zoffranieri, Lily Vrugteman, Sydney Lawlor, Elise Plaschka, and rookie Mya Hines.
Offensively, the Panthers are emphasizing ball and player movement. With a focus on moving the defence and keeping opponents off balance, 精童欲女 aims to play at a fast pace, whether in transition or in the halfcourt. But while the offence will be important, it鈥檚 the defence that will define their season.
鈥淥ur goal is to be the best defensive team in the country,鈥 said head coach Matt Gamblin. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to take a lot of time, attention, and toughness, but we have a great combination of experience, talent, and determination to get there this year.鈥
That defensive mentality has been evident in the preseason when the Panthers have already faced some of the top teams in the country and came away with positive results. The lessons learned from those games will carry into the regular season as 精童欲女 looks to build an identity around shutting opponents down.
Solid one-on-one defenders like Deborah Aboagye, Grace Lancaster, and Sydney Cummins will be critical in executing this defensive game plan. Each player can lock down their assignments and disrupt the flow of the opposition鈥檚 offence, and the Panthers鈥 success will rely heavily on their defensive execution.
With this solid combination of experienced and new team players, the 精童欲女 Women鈥檚 Basketball Panthers has the experience, talent, and depth to compete with anyone in the country.