When Concordia head coach Keith Pruden opened training camp Tuesday, there were several accomplished women’s basketball recruits in the gym with the Stingers.
Marilyse Roy-Viau and Richelle Grégoire, a couple of forwards from the RSEQ champion Dawson College Blues, were turning heads.
Roy-Viau was the MVP at the Quebec college championship last spring. She was also a conference first team all-star in 2011 and 2012. Last year, she averaged 11.8 points per game and 4.9 rebounds. She helped her team earn a silver medal at the Canadian College Athletic Association (CCAA) championship. She was a first team all-star at the national tournament.
In addition to the gold medal in Quebec and the silver at CCAA nationals, Grégoire has other honours. She was a second team RSEQ all-star and named to the second team at the national championship tournament. Last season with Dawson, she averaged 10.6 points and 5.5 rebounds a game.
“Marilyse and Richelle were Dawson's frontline for the last few seasons,” Pruden said. “They are big, strong athletic forwards who can play inside-out and can defend in the post and on the perimetre. They are excellent scorers and rebounders.”
Joining the Stingers from the Collège Édouard Montpetit Lynx is Tamara Pinard-Devos. With her CEGEP team last year she averaged 7.6 points and 5.4 rebounds a game. She also shot .350 from the three-point line.
“Tamara is a big guard who can play all the perimetre positions,” Pruden said. “She is a truly excellent defender. She can handle the ball well and shoot the three easily.”
Finally you can look to Cynthia Suissa from Collège Montmorency to bring some excitement to the team. Last season with the Nomades she averaged 12.2 points and 3.8 rebounds a game. In 19 games, she took 145 three-point shots and averaged .290 per cent.
“Cynthia is a pure shooter who was playing out of position at the point at Montmorency because they needed her to,” Pruden explained. “She is very quick, has good range and accuracy and is a smart, smart player.”
The first chance to catch the Stingers will be Sunday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. when the Laurentian Voyageurs stop by Concordia Gym for a preseason contest.
