X-Women Basketball season preview
‘Fun to watch and tough to beat’
X-Women focused on shooting for AUS basketball crown
By Corey LeBlanc
ANTIGONISH – Get your popcorn ready.
That 2015 quote from retired NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens has been repeated often over the past decade as a way to describe a highly anticipated moment in sports.
For fans of the STFX X-Women basketball program, it would be perfect advice as the 2025-26 Atlantic University Sport (AUS) readies to tip off this weekend.
"We want to be fun to watch and tough to beat," Matt Spencer, who is in his fourth season as head coach of the X-Women, said in a recent pre-season interview.
When it comes reaching that goal, the Antigonish native offered, "It is not a big surprise, it starts at the defensive end for us."
Since Spencer became the leader of the varsity program, one of the bedrocks returning the White and Blue to prominence has been turning a porous defensive team into one of the top ones not only in the AUS but also U SPORTS.
Although they topped the conference in steals and turnovers forced over the past two seasons, Spencer said that they are not satisfied – especially with their AUS ranking in transition scoring.
"It is a renewed emphasis for us, scoring more points on the fast break – improving how we race up the court and attack our opponents before they have the chance to get organized," he explained.
Spencer also stressed the ongoing importance of "keeping people out of the paint. When we win our one-on-one, we stay out of rotations, and that helps us start to dictate our opponents' options."
Noting his multi-step vision when he became head coach, the STFX alumnus said they are "continuing in the right direction," something spurred by the program's ability to recruit "high character women who are willing to lean into the demands of a high-performance environment."
"I think we've also done a really good job of player development," Spencer offered. "Our returning players are getting faster, stronger, more skilled, more patient, and are really developing a good understanding of the game. We had a really good off-season."
Returnees are ready
Leading the way for a balanced and deep White and Blue roster will be a pair of quality seniors – guard Mali Straker (Yellowknife, NWT) and wing Lauren Neeve (Oro-Medonte, ON) – are coming off "really, really good summers," according to their head coach.
"They are going to leave our program better than they found it. They have hit it out of the park this summer, and we expect that to continue throughout this season," Spencer said, noting that the veteran tandem has taken their individual development and leadership "to the next level."
He added that Krissy Cooper (Hamilton, ON) is "poised to breakthrough," while predicting an outstanding season for the talented guard. "Krissy has provided some 'wow moments' over her first three seasons, but what I'm most excited about is her growing consistency." Cooper finished the pre-season amongst the nation's leader in assists and was also amongst the top ten players in the country in steals (4th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (10th). Not to be outdone, 3rd year forward Shannon Neita (Toronto, ON) led the country in steals, was 2nd in rebounding, and 9th in scoring through eight pre-season games. "Shannon can do a little bit of everything. We count on her for scoring, defence, rebounding, and energy – and she brings it every single night."
As for junior forward Reegan Bell (Perth, ON), he said she has "an incredible off-season," adding that she came into training camp not only fitter and stronger, but also more assertive and self-confident.
After averaging 18 minutes per game last year, Spencer said forward Abby Mercer (Wolfville, NS) "really emerged as a defensive stopper."
Even though junior Ella Brazier (Windsor, ON) hasn't had as many opportunities in her first couple of seasons, Spencer anticipates the guard – who returned fitter and stronger – will be "one of our top snipers."
He informed that sophomore wing Ayla White "really sank her teeth into the off-season." White burst onto the AUS basketball scene last year and was rewarded with a nod on the conference All-Rookie team. "Ayla's a sparkplug for us. She plays with great energy. She can get to the rim, knocks down 3s, and is a very disruptive defender."
Spencer noted that the team will miss sophomore forward Ali Oluyole (Wolfville, NS), who joined White on the AUS All-Rookie team last season. She will miss this campaign while recovering from a knee injury.
It's hard to say if Ofer Caspi is more of a returner or a fresh face. Either way, StFX fans are going to love watching her play. Caspi suited up for the X-Women last season, but was sidelined with a season-ending knee injury. She is poised to make her return next month – and Spencer says that she is an impact player. "Ofer is a scorer. She's tough, versatile, and competitive. We're really looking forward to getting her back into the lineup."
As for his returning players, he offered, "Up and down the lineup, they have come back fitter and more confident."
The newcomers
When it comes to new faces donning the program's colours, the White and Blue have welcomed Louise Rouse (St Albans, ENG), who started her U SPORTS career with the highly-regarded Calgary Dinos' program.
"Plug and play," Spencer said of the versatile forward – a former U SPORTS all-rookie team member and Canada West all-star. Although they have different styles, he explained that Rouse will be able help fill the void left by the graduation of AUS all-star Ekaterina Karchevskaya, who is in her first season as a StFX assistant coach. "Louise is not the same type of playmaker [as Ekaterina], but she is more of an assertive scorer and rebounder," Spencer added. Noting her experience suiting up for a top-10 program, he said that Rouse "has already brought a lot to our locker room."
Spencer explained that the four other newcomers share the "same profile," having played with "winning [high school] programs" across the country.
He described guard Mikaela James (Toronto, ON) - who has appeared in Biosteel All-Canadian Basketball Games and was a key contributor to Team Ontario's U15 national championship win in 2022 – as "your favourite point guard's favourite point guard" – adding that she is not only a strong shooter but also a "defensive nuisance."
"We are excited about the backcourt she will form with Mikaela over the next couple of years," Spencer offered of Ava McNutt (Halifax, NS), who appeared in three consecutive School Sport Nova Scotia Division 1 title games – capturing one championship – with the Halifax West Warriors. "Ava and MJ have made an immediate impact. They've handled the transition to university basketball really well. Both of them are playing with poise and confidence. I think StFX fans are going to love watching these two over the next few years."
He called Adison Lockhart (Kentville, NS), who won a Nova Scotia high school crown with Oluyole at Horton High School in 2024, a "big athletic wing," who not only can hit the three-point shot, but also provides tremendous charisma and energy. "Adi was a late addition – we are really thrilled to have added her to our program," Spencer said.
Describing it as her "super power," he pointed to the cardiovascular fitness of first-year wing Feron Wallace (Kamloops, BC), a multi-sport athlete who also ran with the STFX cross country program this fall.
"Feron has an unparalleled work ethic… who embraces physicality," the X-Women mentor said, noting her ability not only "pressure the rim," but also offensive rebound and defend any position on the floor. He added, "She is going to make life uncomfortable for teams."
One day at a time
Describing the commitment of his student-athletes as "really high," when it comes to playing such a smothering style – one that requires not only talent, but unmatched fitness and a lot of creativity, Spencer applauded his X-Women for their "tremendous dedication behind the scenes."
"We take it one day, one practice [and] one game at a time," he explained of working towards the ultimate goal of "playing on that Sunday in February" for an AUS banner.
He added, "We are focused on not looking too far ahead and embracing the daily grind."
This season, Spencer hopes that White and Blue fans will be "entertained, have some fun and want to watch us play again."
The X-Women will tip off their quest for an AUS crown with a road trip to St. John's this weekend for games versus the Memorial Sea-Hawks – on Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25. Tip-off for both matchups is 5:30 ADT.
STFX will welcome the Dalhousie Tigers for their regular season home opener on Wednesday, Oct. 29, on Coach K Court at the Saputo Centre at 6 p.m.
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