Maritime talent bolsters X-Women basketball roster for 2016-17

ANTIGONISH, NS – StFX women's basketball head coach Augy Jones is pleased to announce four Maritime recruits who will be joining the X-Women program for the 2016-17 season.

Forward Allison Reno (Halifax, N.S.), guards Jessica Miller (Mount Denson, N.S.), Sydney Saunders (Woodstock, N.B.) and Megan Gallie (Campbellton, N.B.) have all committed to the blue and white this fall.

Allison Reno is a 6'0" forward with Citadel High School in Halifax. A member of the provincial championship team in grade 11, she was a Halifax high school all-star this past year in her grade 12 season. Reno has played club basketball for the Halifax Osprey, Thunder Selects, Halifax Fusion and Scotia Sting SeleX. Also a competitor in volleyball, lacrosse and track & field, she was an academic honour student in grade 10 and has enrolled in Bachelor of Arts program at StFX.

X-Women head coach Augy Jones comments, "The most attractive aspect of Allie's game is her intense competitive spirit and her versatility. She is a determined defensive player and rebounder, yet she can also attack the basket and shoot from the perimeter. We also like the fact that she comes from a great winning tradition with Citadel High; she brings the type of edge that we want in our program."

Reno is excited to be attending StFX in the fall as she notes, "I have been interested in X ever since I first attended summer basketball camps there in junior high. I am really looking forward to the challenge of university basketball and can't wait to meet new friends and teammates. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to improve my game with Coach Jones and the rest of the coaching staff."

Jessica Miller is a 5'6" shooting guard from Mount Denson, N.S. who plays for Avonview High School. The team captain in her grade 12 season, she lead Avonview to Division 2 provincial gold and bronze medals in each of the past two years. Miller has played for the Shooting Stars basketball club in Windsor, N.S., as well as competing on the U15 and U17 Basketball Nova Scotia provincial summer teams. A multi-sport athlete competing also in soccer, softball and track & field, Jessica is involved in Student Council and Leadership programs and has been an academic honours (with distinction) student in grades nine through12. She is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics program at StFX.

Coach Jones comments, "Jessica has an incredible passion for the game of basketball with a high basketball IQ.  What we like best about Jessica is her ability to shoot the ball from the three-point line. She has the exact attitude that we want here in our program going forward."

"It is a dream come true to attend StFX in September," comments Miller. "For as long as I could remember, I have wanted to be a part of the X family, both athletically and academically. The welcome that I felt on my first visit made my decision easy and I am proud that my hard work and dedication to basketball has given me the opportunity to play at the next level. I feel I am ready for the commitment needed to succeed as an X-Woman and will do my best to contribute to the success of the team."

Sydney Saunders is a 5'10" shooting guard from Woodstock, N.B. who plays for Woodstock High School. She was the NBIAA 'AA' Southwest Player of the Year in her grade 12 season, along with being named an NBIAA 'AA' Southwest conference all-star. Saunders has played for the Western Valley Attack club team, as well as the New Brunswick U15 summer provincial team. Also a high school volleyball, soccer and cross-country athlete, she is a four-time honour roll student who has enrolled in the Human Kinetics program at StFX for the fall.

"Sydney was a highly recruited player out of Woodstock High School," comments Coach Jones. "They have one of the best programs in New Brunswick and Sydney has been a big part of that. She is a tall player who has outstanding shooting touch from beyond the three-point line, having hit more than 5 three-point shots in several games, in fact. Sydney will be a great addition to our much improved outside shooting ability here at StFX."

Saunders is thrilled to be attending StFX, noting "This has been a goal of mine since an early age, and to be playing basketball with the X-Women program is icing on the cake. I am looking forward to new experiences, friends and teammates."

Megan Gallie is a 5'7" guard from Campbellton, N.B. who plays for Sugarloaf High School. The most valuable player in grades 10, 11 and 12, she was an NBIAA 'AA' North East conference all-star in each of those seasons, in addition to being honored as the NBIAA 'AA' North East Player of the Year in her grade 12 year. Gallie also competes in soccer, volleyball, taekwondo and track & field and has enrolled in the Engineering program at StFX.

"I first saw Megan play at our summer basketball camp last August where she was voted MVP of the highest division," says Coach Jones. "She is a versatile, hard-working guard who can play both the point and shooting guard positions. Megan is another addition to our program who brings a tremendous love for the game of basketball."

Gallie comments, "I am both honoured and excited to be joining the X-Women basketball team in September.  StFX has a great program that focuses on the development of each player as well as the team collectively, and I am proud to be a part of that. StFX has always been a dream school and I am looking forward to being a part of the X family."

The Maritime additions join five recruits out of Ontario already committed to the X-Women program for the fall which includes  Katie MacIntosh (Barrie, Ont.), Leah Fahey (Barrie, Ont.), Caroline Hrabinski (Toronto), Lexy Parkin (St. Catharine's, Ont.) and Maggie Segeren (Komoka, Ont.).

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