Pictured (L-R): Kiersten Hilton, Lawrie Saunders, and Sarah Allison are the newest members of the University of Calgary Dinos women's basketball team
CALGARY – University of Calgary Dinos women's basketball coach
Shawnee Harle wasted little time improving her squad, announcing three top recruits for the 2010-11 season Tuesday.
Six-foot-three post Lawrie Saunders and five-foot-ten forward Kiersten Hilton will give the Dinos some needed size up front, while B.C. provincial team veteran Sarah Allison is a straight-A student and a dynamic player who will strengthen the Dinos' guard corps.
Harle's first wave of recruits should fit in well on another young Calgary team in 2010-11, with only one fifth year (
Ashley Hill) and one fourth year (
Megan Lang) adorning the roster.
LAWRIE SAUNDERS - 6'3” post, Ponoka Composite High School (Alix, Alta.)
Blessed with tools to become a centerpiece of the Dinos front-line for years to come, six-foot-three Lawrie Sanders will provide a unique dose of toughness for Calgary, a result of high-level rodeo achievements.
A national champion calf roper, the Alix, Alta. native honed her basketball skills at Ponoka Composite High School where she was named the 2009 Female Athlete of the Year as well as her team's MVP. Sanders plans to study Kinesiology at the University of Calgary while balancing both her basketball and rodeo interests.
Jody McElroy, her high school coach, is happy to see one of her own become a Dino.
“It's nice to see one of our 'small-town' girls work hard and achieve her ultimate goal in the game of basketball,” said McElroy. “We at Ponoka Comp. are happy to see one of our athletes pursuing post secondary sport.”
Harle is excited to unveil Saunders to her Canada West opponents.
“Lawrie is a diamond in the rough and I truly believe she is going to surprise people next season,” said Harle. “A six-three player who is a champion calf roper - what more could I ask for?
“Her rodeo experience tells me about her toughness and competitive spirit and with a bit of seasoning, she will have much to offer Dinos basketball.”
SARAH ALLISON - 5'8” guard, Elgin Park Secondary School (Surrey, B.C.)
Coming out of Elgin Park Secondary School in Surrey, B.C., Allison brings a strong winning pedigree to the table for the Dinos. Her Elgin Park Orcas team took the 2008 BC AAA provincial championship in thrilling overtime fashion and finished third at the 2009 edition. Allison also won silver at the Canada Games with the Team BC juvenile girls, losing to Team Alberta in the championship game.
A defensive stopper and a knock-down shooter, Allison is also an exceptional student. She has maintained a 4.0 GPA since Grade 8 and is looking forward to using the University of Calgary to help shape her long-term career interests.
Her father played hockey at the University of British Columbia and she will “never cheer for the Flames over the Canucks,” but Allison is excited to make the trip east to Calgary.
“I like that the Dinos play an up-tempo game and that they have an excellent coaching staff that believes in developing all their players,” she said. “I am excited to move to Calgary, to attend university classes and to play in the best basketball conference in the country with a first-class program.”
Coach Harle was equally thrilled to add such a dynamic player to the Dinos' up-tempo style.
“We were very impressed with Sarah Allison when she played at our elite camp and it was easy to see she would be the perfect fit for our program,” the 16-year head coach explained. “She is intelligent, competitive and brings a winner's mentality. Plus, she loves to run and press and that's the style we like to play.”
KIERSTEN HILTON – 5'10” forward, Sir Winston Churchill High School (Calgary)
A local product from Sir Winston Churchill High School, Kiersten Hilton will be fulfilling a life-long dream to play for her hometown Dinos.
A dynamic and fast player for her height and size, Hilton led the Churchill Bulldogs to an 8-2 finish in her grade 12 year and is the reigning two-time basketball MVP and Athlete of the Year at her school. Hilton is an academic stand-out as well, having been a member of the honour roll throughout junior high and high school.
Hilton helped make history this past summer in winning gold at the 2009 Canada Games over Allison's Team B.C., which marked the first gold medal performance for the Team Alberta juvenile girls basketball team on the national stage. Hilton has also played for the Calgary Selects and the Nike Centre for Performance program.
Bulldogs head coach Brian Adams speaks highly of Hilton, who is an aspiring teacher herself.
“The Dinos program is getting a good person as well as a good basketball player,” he said. “Kiersten's athleticism fits into the aggressive, up-tempo, run and trap philosophy the Dinos demonstrate game in, game out.”
Kiersten brings a strong level of athleticism and height to the Dinos' perimeter that has coach Harle eagerly anticipating the start of the season.
“We need to get bigger on the perimeter and Kiersten is the perfect remedy,” coach Harle concluded. “She is 5'10", is not afraid to mix it up in the paint, plays hard-nosed defence, runs the floor like a guard, and loves to press and trap - that is Dinos basketball!”
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