LANCERS ADD FOUR
Loyalist College and the Lancers are pleased to welcome Lindsay Bonucchi, Thesa Pangan, Daija Thompson and Aaliyah Alexander to the women's basketball program heading into the 2020-21 season.
Lindsay Bonucchi
Bonucchi joins the Lancers via the Tri-City Soldiers of the JUEL league. The dynamic forward also spent time with the Brantford Falcons. A native of Brantford, ON, Bonucchi graduated from Brantford Collegiate Institute where she was a multi-sport athlete playing rugby and basketball, winning the BCSSAA basketball championships 3 years in a row.
Bonucchi will be studying Early Childhood Education at Loyalist College in the fall. "I chose Loyalist because Coach Caleb and the other coaches will help me become a better player and teach me how to become a better individual on and off the court."
"We are extremely excited to have Lindsay join our program," said Lancers head coach Caleb Hugh. "She is a great athlete, amazing teammate, and a fierce competitor. Her aggressiveness, rebounding, and touch on the basketball will be an asset to the Lancers from day one."
Thesa Pangan
A 5'4 shooting guard, Pangan will step into a strong backcourt with the Lancers. The Mississauga native was most recently a member of the Lankan Basketball Association. Pangan joins the Lancers via St. Paul Secondary School where she was the MVP of the basketball team in grade 12.
Pangan will be studying Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapist Assistant at Loyalist in the fall. "I chose Loyalist because I have a few friends that have gone there nd they all love it and the coaching staff are very friendly and inviting."
"Thesa comes from a strong basketball program and she displays a great feel for the game", noted Hugh. "She can defend multiple positions and is a willing passer. Her love for the game and basketball IQ will fit our team's culture very well."
Daija Thompson
A 5'6 point guard from Whitby, Thompson brings key depth to the point guard position for the Lancers. Joining the Lancers from Sinclair SS and Next Up Hoops, Thompson has received numerous awards while playing club and high school basketball. In 2017 Thompson won MVP while playing for Scarborough Blues, and in the following year she won the MVP for the entire OBA league.
Thompson will be studying Police Foundations at Loyalist in the fall. "I chose Loyalist because Coach Caleb presented me with this awesome opportunity to be a part of the Lancer family. From an educational purpose Loyalist was the perfect choice for me as it had the program I want to study."
"Daija is one of the strongest guards I have seen while recruiting", said Hugh. "Her toughness, will to win, and ability to finish through contact will help her succeed in the OCAA. This attitude embodies what our Lancers basketball program strives for."
Aaliyah Alexander
Alexander joins the Lancers via the Triple Threat of the OSBA. The dynamic 5'9 guard graduated from Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School, where she played for her high school basketball team.
Alexander will be studying Fitness and Health Promotion at Loyalist College in the fall. "I chose Loyalist because it was close to home, but also far enough away where I have to stay on residence. Another reason why I like Loyalist is that the school is small, and it makes me feel more comfortable."
"Aaliyah is a versatile basketball player that can instantly help our program in a number of ways", noted Coach Hugh. "She has great size for her position, has a strong ability to handle and distribute the ball, and has a fearless style of play. Her 'never satisfied' approach to her craft matches well with what we look for in our Lancers."
With a solid core group coming back, Coach Hugh looks forward to adding such strong players to the mix. "We are thrilled to bring in four great athletes to the Lancers basketball program. Each player brings good size for their position, as well as a strong compete level that will help our program improve defensively. Most importantly, each athlete is academically driven with a strong work ethic that will set them up for success off the court. These four young ladies will make our entire Loyalist family stronger."