The Concordia Stingers women’s basketball coaching staff is pleased to announce Kristin Portwine and Heather Eason – two of the top players available in Quebec – have committed to Concordia University.
“We’re delighted to have two such outstanding student-athletes join our program,” says head coach Keith Pruden. “They’ll both make an immediate impact on the team on the court.”
The two posts come out of the respected Vanier Cheetahs College AAA program. Last season the Cheetahs were ranked No. 1 in the Canadian College Athletic Association (CCAA) rankings and won the national championship with an 82-80 victory over Collège Édouard-Monpetit.
Portwine, a five-foot-10 power forward from Kirkland, Que., was the tournament MVP at the CCAA nationals last March. Her strong defensive play and good offensive skills around the hoop impressed the Concordia coaches. In 18 Quebec conference games, she averaged 9.7 points and 5.5 rebounds a game.
Portwine is also respected for her strong academics. She earned an Academic Achievement Award at Vanier for keeping her grades above 80 per cent. She has been accepted into Concordia’s highly-respected John Molson School of Business where she will study Marketing.
Eason, a six-foot-one centre from Dollard des Ormeaux, Que., was the Cheetahs’ MVP in the 2005-’06 season. Last year, she averaged 11.3 points in 18 games in the CEGEP league. The Concordia coaches look forward to having a strong rebounder who is also a very good outside shooter in the lineup. Eason will study Anthropology at Concordia.
The Stingers’ women’s basketball program is enjoying a strong recruiting year and looks forward to opening training camp on Sept. 4.
