X-Women basketball secure two top Nova Scotia high school recruits

ANTIGONISH, NS – StFX X-Women basketball head coach Augy Jones is pleased to announce the addition of Cape Breton natives Marissa MacKinnon and Kayla MacIntyre to the X-Women line-up for the 2012-13 season.

A native of Sydney, N.S., Marissa MacKinnon was the leading scorer amongst Cape Breton high school division I schools for the past three years. The 6’2” post player from Sydney Academy averaged 25 points and 15 rebounds in her grade 12 season, taking home team most valuable player honors in each of the past two seasons after starting her high school career as the 2009-10 rookie of the year. An ambidextrous athlete, MacKinnon was also a rugby MVP and Sydney Academy’s 2011-12 female athlete of the year. She will be enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts program at StFX this fall.

Accordingly to X-Women head coach Augy Jones, “Marissa has been sought after by the X-Women program for three years now.”
 
“It is very difficult to find young post players who are happy to do work ‘inside the key.’ As a tall player, Marissa has natural, fundamental instincts - she can rebound, has solid post moves, passes the ball exceptionally well and sets solid screens. These are the types of skills that have us very excited about her commitment to StFX for next year.”

MacKinnon comments, “I am looking forward to my educational and athletic experiences at StFX. I feel that the coaching staff and my new teammates will help bring my game to the next level. I am very excited to be a part of such an amazing program and for the chance to prove myself as a CIS player.”

Kayla MacIntyre is a 5’9” forward, also from Sydney, N.S., who played at Riverview High School. A first team Cape Breton division I all-star, MacIntyre and her teammates placed second this past winter at the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation division I provincial basketball finals, improving upon their third place showing in 2011. Kayla was a member of the 2011 Basketball Nova Scotia U17 team.

The future StFX human kinetics student received honors with distinction in all three years of high school and is following in the footsteps of her two StFX alumni parents, commenting, “StFX University has always meant a great deal to me. Growing up in a Xaverian family, I always heard what a wonderful reputation X has for both academics and athletics. I am very proud and excited about the opportunity to be part of the X family. This is truly a dream come true for me!”

Coach Jones is equally excited about MacIntyre joining StFX, saying “Kayla is a great addition to the X-Women program. Many coaches contacted me about her and all were impressed with how hard she works on and off the basketball court. Once I saw her play and conducted some workouts with her, I was also very impressed. Kayla’s one hundred percent commitment to improving as a basketball player will serve her well at the CIS level. We are just as excited as she is to have her in the StFX family.”

The Nova Scotia duo join previously announced X-Women recruits Lindsay Lessard, Alana Lawn and Courtney Kilyk, all Ontario natives and JUEL league products.

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