THUNDER BAY – Leashja Grant is the OUA’s women’s basketball player of the year.
Grant, an NCAA transfer in her first year with the Lakehead Thunderwolves, led the league in both scoring and rebounding, putting up 22.3 points a night and averaging 14.1 boards a game.
The Bahamian native had double-doubles in 23 of 24 regular season games and both playoff contests, leading the Wolves into the second round of the post-season.
“I am extremely proud of Leashja Grant. In just her first year in the OUA she broke the all-time rebound record for a season and has set the standard as a double-double machine,” said LU coach Jon Kreiner.
"I also feel that she has just started to figure out what it takes to elevate her and her team’s game to an elite level. We feel that Leashja will come back to Lakehead University next season stronger than ever and motivated to break more records while taking us closer to our goal of winning an OUA title.”
Grant, who hauled in a league-record 338 rebounds in 2017-18, is the second Thunderwolves player to take home the league’s top honour, following in the footsteps of Jylisa Williams, who won the award in 2015.
OUA Major Award Winners
Player of the Year – Leashja Grant, Lakehead
Defensive Player of the Year – Elizabeth Leblanc, Carleton
Rookie of the Year – Marin Scotten, Ryerson
Joy Bellinger Award – Andrea Priamo, Queen’s
Tracy MacLeod Award – Lindsay Shotbolt, York
Coach of the Year – Taffe Charles, Carleton
OUA First-Team All-Stars
- Leashja Grant, Lakehead
- Lindsay Shotbolt, York
- Sofia Paska, Ryerson
- Emily Prevost, Windsor
- Hilary Hanaka, McMaster
OUA Second-Team All-Stars
- Elizabeth Leblanc, Carleton
- Nicole Morrison, Laurier
- Heather Lindsay, Carleton
- Veronika Lavergne, Queen’s
- Mackenzie Puklicz, Western
OUA Third-Team All-Stars
- Linnaea Harper, McMaster
- Keyira Parkes, Toronto
- Catherine Traer, Carleton
- Brooklynn McAlear-Fanus, Ottawa
- Julia Curran, Western
OUA All-Rookie Team
- Marin Scotten, Ryerson
- Brigitte Lefebvre-Okankwu, Ottawa
- Burke Bechard, Guelph
- Sarah Gates, McMaster
- Kristin Gallant, Brock
