NAIT Ooks women's basketball team has been playing some of their best ball as of late. Although the wins have become more challenging than they'd like, the club has shown determination and resiliency. Prior to their narrow defeats to the league-leading Concordia Thunder a few weekends ago, the club was on a three-game win streak. They cruised to multiple 30-point wins on the road against Northwestern Wolves.
"We are learning how to play with one another. We are such a fresh and young team that it took some time to hash out our roles and figure out how to play together," said Head Coach Kiera Lyons.
Two players are making their mark on the team this season, and they happen to be sisters. Ellie Wilde played a crucial role in both wins against the Wolves, registering 21 points in the Ooks' first game. She also tied a season-high in assists with seven and rebounds with six. Lucy Wilde had a sensational second game, scoring 13 points while collecting a career-high 15 rebounds; she also contributed on the defensive end racking up five steals in the win.
The student-athletes talked about a previous coach when asked about what influenced them.
"One coach that has influenced both mine and Lucy's success was Ross Blackmer. He knew how to help us succeed and hold us to high expectations. His impact was long-lasting on our basketball careers," said Ellie Wilde.
The Wilde sisters have been instrumental in the Ooks' success this season. Both second-year student-athletes are in the captioning and court reporting program at NAIT; they excel both on the court and off.
"We are both super competitive and love the fast-paced and physical game. It makes playing basketball so fun, knowing we are giving it our all every game, and we have the same desires for the game," said Lucy Wilde.
The guards from Welling, Alberta, have not only played a prominent role in the team's offensive attack, but they wear their hearts on their sleeves. They are fearless on the court and always willing to go the extra mile for the club.
"They sacrifice their time, energy, and their bodies daily. Always covered in bruises and blood," Lyons said.
Lucy Wilde leads the Ooks in scoring averaging just under 15 points per game. Ellie Wilde averages nine points per game, but her ability to distribute the basketball makes her so important. She leads the club in assists, averaging more than four a game. They also rank one and two on the team in steals and free throw attempts, signifying their fearlessness to get to the paint. It's safe to say that what they bring to the team is irreplaceable.
"They are never outworked by anyone, whether that's a 6:00 a.m. practice or a Saturday night game. They show up and set the standard for the rest of the team," Lyons said.
Ooks are back in action this weekend on the road as they head to SAIT on Friday and St. Mary's University on Saturday to close out the regular season. They will be looking to build off their excellent play as of late and get back into the win column as the regular season comes to a close. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. You can catch both games on ACACTV or Telus Optik Channel 1998.