BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
All season, Cassandra Carpenter carried a
heavy load for the Laurentian University women's basketball
team, and time and time again she delivered with awe-inspiring
performances.
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Carpenter was recently named the Ontario
University Athletic (OUA) East player of the Year for her
outstanding season which saw her dismantle the all-time single
season points record (only to lose it a few nights later to a
Brock player), score an average of 19.41 points-per-game
(second in the OUA, fifth in Canada) and grab an average of
10.45 rebounds per game (first in the OUA, second in
Canada).
Consistency has become synonymous
Carpenter's game.
Â"Cassandra was remarkably consistent all
year in every game,Â" said head coach Mike Clarke. Â"We played
31 straight games where she was in double scoring figures in
each game, which is very tough to do at any level. She improved
a lot, and not just in stats because she became a more
multi-faceted player. She has expanded her game. This year,
Cassandra played inside a lot, and her maturity level
improved.Â"
Carpenter also managed 17 double-double
(points and rebounds) games this season, another remarkable
achievement for a five-foot-eleven forward.
Carpenter felt exhilarated by being chosen
for the two major awards, but is quick to point out that none
of the recognition would have been possible without the help
from everyone in her life.
Â"It feels great and it means a lot because
there are so many great players in the OUA, especially on our
team,Â"said Carpenter. Â"There's 13 players on Laurentian
that could easily play on any other team in the OUA, and
without them, my coaches and support from family and friends, I
wouldn't have been able to do it.
Â"My teammates are amazing. They push me in
practice and never allow you to let up, even a bit. Having them
there, day in and day out, has made me a better player and
person. In some areas, I exceeded what I thought I could
do.Â"
Even though she's now considered one of
the top female basketball players in the country, Carpenter
feels she has room to grow and become even better.
Â"There's always room for improvement,Â"
said Carpenter. Â"There's never a time to let up because as
soon as you do that, everybody else catches up to you.Â"
Clarke also sees even bigger and better
things to come from Carpenter, which is only bad news for the
rest of the OUA.
Â"It's scary for the opposition that she
can get better,Â" said Clarke. Â"Cassandra's potentially an
awesome shooter, but she needs to work on her technique.
It's exciting as a coach because you don't get somebody
with her type of potential very often. Anything you give
Cassandra, skill-wise to master, she picks up right
away.Â"
Even though her season is done - the Lady
Vees lost in the OUA East Final to Ottawa - Carpenter has her
eyes already set for next season. She will be the focal point
of the squad because five veterans - Brianne Henry, Tierney
Hoo, Caitlin Blackadder, Kate Walker and Symone Wilson - will
graduate.
Â"Being the focal point is a challenge I am
looking for,Â" said Carpenter. Â"At the same time, it's sad
because five great players are leaving. They have been such a
big part of this team for the last five years, and over the
last two years I have been playing.Â"