February 25, 2020

Top-scorer Tatti takes home Player of the Year triumph to headline this year’s hardware haul

Burlington, Ont. – After finishing two games below the .500 mark a year ago, the Brock Badgers had plenty to celebrate this season, and the jubilation continues into this year’s conference honours as well. In addition to Brock’s bountiful hardware haul, the likes of a champion defender, an upstart university newcomer, and a pair of graduating Mustangs help highlight the OUA women’s basketball major award winners and all-stars for the 2019-20 season.

Player of the Year – Melissa Tatti, Brock Badgers

When talking about Brock’s triumphant campaign, the conversation starts with Melissa Tatti, who has been the catalyst in the team’s ascent up the standings this season. The fifth-year guard has been at the forefront of the team’s on-court execution, proving herself to be the lynchpin to Brock’s success each time she suited up for the nationally-ranked squad from Niagara.

Among the many highlights for Tatti in her senior season was a career-high 30-point performance over the then sixth-seeded Queen’s Gaels. As if that scoring showcase wasn’t enough, the Ancaster, Ont. native would go on to match that mark the following game against York and outdid herself just two outings later, going off for 34 points against the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.

Even when she wasn’t setting career-best marks, however, Tatti was still pouring in the points at a league-best clip all season long. She finished the regular season with an OUA-leading 18.5 points per game, thanks in large part to her 34.8% success rate from beyond the arc and nearly 84% shooting from the charity stripe. As intimidating as she was as a scorer, her ability to distribute added yet another level to her offensive proficiency. Her vision on the court and decision-making while running the point led her to an average of 6.6 assists per contest, ranking second in the OUA in that regard.

As active as she was on the offensive end, the first team all-star was also a thorn in the opposition’s side on defence, wrapping up the campaign with a third-ranked 2.5 steals per game and averaging almost five rebounds for Brock. And after opening her university career with an all-rookie nod, the decorated senior will close the book on what was a regular season to remember with the 2019-20 OUA Player of the Year honour.

Coach of the Year – Mike Rao, Brock Badgers

Not only did the Badgers boast a standout on the court, but behind the bench as well. Mike Rao, in just his second season at the helm of the Brock women’s team, earns the OUA Coach of the Year selection after guiding the St. Catharines squad to a 17-5 record.

The feat itself, which included a pair of all-star nods from his players, was impressive, but even more significant when looking at the progress the team has made since Rao’s arrival. After playing a key role on the men’s coaching staff in 2017-18, Rao guided the Badgers women’s contingent the following year to their first postseason appearance since 2012. But the Niagara College and Brock University alum did not stop there, as his encore effort helped Brock build on their recent success and reach new heights in the 2019-20 campaign.

The Badgers added nearly eight points per game to their team scoring (70.9 PPG), allowed almost five fewer points per contest (61.0 PPG), and most importantly, managed to add six wins to their record in two fewer games. Under the tutelage of the long-tenured Notre Dame high school coach, the Badgers became a constant in the national rankings, wrapping up the season in the seventh spot in Canada and earning a bye in the opening round of the Critelli Cup playoffs.

Defensive Player of the Year – Christina Buttenham, McMaster Marauders

Someone who has been quite familiar with regular season and postseason success during her university career, meanwhile, is McMaster Marauders standout Christina Buttenham, who after claiming championship honours a year ago, sees her tenure with the maroon machine wrap up with her most impressive individual campaign.

The talented guard had plenty of shining moments for the defending champions on the offensive side of the ball this season, as evidenced by her fourth-ranked scoring totals (16.9 PPG) and league-leading 151 field goal attempts, but as much of a focal point as she was on offence, it was her impact on the other end of the floor that earned her OUA Defensive Player of the Year honours.

The Ancaster, Ont. native was as active as they come on the defensive end this season. The primary instrument in Buttenham’s defensive tool belt was her league-leading 3.6 steals per game, as her thievery skills truly set her apart both this season and in the history books. The senior broke McMaster’s regular season record for steals per game (Katie Coulson & Danielle Boiago, 3.3 STL) – a mark that had been the school standard for nearly two decades – and did so on the back of nine games of at least five steals.

In addition to her propensity for the takeaway, the first team all-star all made her presence felt on the glass by pulling down 8.3 boards per game (5th in OUA), while registering just under one block per outing (0.8; 14th in OUA) for the 14-win Marauders.

Rookie of the Year – Héléna Lamoureux, Laurentian Voyageurs

While the likes of Tatti and Buttenham have claimed these coveted awards in their senior years, Héléna Lamoureux is off and running with some first-year hardware. The Laurentian Voyageurs standout earns the OUA Rookie of the Year nod after what was an impactful foray into the university game.

The talented rookie got out of the gates quickly with 16 points in her debut effort, which sparked a stretch of three double-digit scoring performances in her opening five games. Despite missing the next six games due to injury, Lamoureux did not skip a beat upon returning to the Laurentian lineup, pouring in 20+ points in three of her next four contests. Her offence would continue to shine the rest of the way, culminating in a season-high 29 points in the season’s penultimate weekend against Ontario Tech.

The native of Laval, Que. would finish the season ranked fifth in conference scoring (16.8 PPG) and tied for third in rebounds (8.9 RPG). And even with though she missed half a dozen games for the Sudbury squad, the first-year phenom still finished with six double-doubles on the year and claimed a spot in the OUA’s top 20 in total points and boards. Her offensive capabilities also led to her sitting second in free throws made on the year.

Joy Bellinger Award – Julia Curran, Western Mustangs

On-court ability has helped several student-athletes stand out over the course of their playing careers, and despite everything she brings between the whistles, Julia Curran has been much more than a basketball player during her five years with the Western Mustangs. And it is because of this outstanding service to the sport – both here and abroad – Curran has been named the 2019-20 Joy Bellinger Award recipient.

The multi-time OUA all-star and academic all-Canadian has unquestionably made her mark on the court, having notched over 1,000 points during a university career that began with an OUA Rookie of the Year selection. Not only has she been consistent, but also persistent, having come back strong this season with 11.4 points per game after missing the majority of the 2018-19 campaign due to injury. But amidst all the success on the court and in the classroom, Curran turned in what might have been her most important performance this past summer.

The forward from Waterloo, Ont. turned her attention globally, traveling to Senegal with the goal of empowering young women through sport programs. While there, Curran was able to run programs, run reproductive health educational sessions, and distribute nearly 300 feminine hygiene kits supplied by Days for Girls. Her impact also extended to the fundraising side prior to the trip, which included distributing sporting equipment to local schools, as well as team apparel for girls to wear during games and keep afterwards.

Now in her fifth year with the purple and white, Curran continues to work with AYWA International NGO team, with whom she worked in Africa, as well as get involved with her local community through her academics. Thanks to the latter, Curran has a community placement with True Focus and Motiv8 studios at Innovation Works London, where she is doing research to further addiction treatment.

Tracy MacLeod Award – Maddy Horst, Western Mustangs

Curran wasn’t the only Western player that missed time last year, as fellow Mustang Maddy Horst also found herself on the sidelines for much of the previous campaign. That wasn’t the first time the injury bug caught up with Horst; however, as it remained a prominent factor throughout her university tenure. And while these physical impacts remained present from her all-rookie campaign to her now fifth and final season on the court, they are something that this year’s Tracy MacLeod Award recipient has come to recognize as an avenue to grow as a player and as a person.

From breaking her nose in a pre-season game during her sophomore season to tearing her ACL and medial meniscus in the regular season finale that year, Horst felt the effects of long-term injuries early and often. Along with lingering shin splints that came with intense training, the Baden, Ont. native was forced to make both physical and mental adjustments throughout her post-secondary path. The injuries continued with a tear in her lateral meniscus in her fourth year, not to mention the ongoing pain that has lingered throughout her career.

The recurring pains and overuse injuries may have continued for Horst into her senior years, but after five years of playing at a high level, two surgeries, and chronic aches, the veteran has turned in her best campaign in her final chapter. She has been a leader on and off the court, and in churning out nearly 30 minutes per game, the first team all-star has produced a career-best average of 16.4 points per contest to lead her squad to a 19-win season and the OUA’s top seed; truly epitomizing the determination, perseverance, and unwavering spirit that this award recognizes.

In addition to these major award recipients are a collection of fellow phenoms from the hardwood, who turned in all-star campaigns for their respective schools, the complete list of which is below.

Major Award Winners

Player of the Year – Melissa Tatti, Brock

Defensive Player of the Year – Christina Buttenham, McMaster

Rookie of the Year – Héléna Lamoureux, Laurentian

Joy Bellinger Award – Julia Curran, Western

Tracy MacLeod Award – Maddy Horst, Western

Coach of the Year – Mike Rao, Brock

First Team All-Stars (presented by Wilson)

Melissa Tatti, Brock

Brooklynn McAlear-Fanus, Ottawa

Maddy Horst, Western

Alyssa Cerino, Carleton