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Coach Jones nets familiar faces for Lakers Women's Basketball

Familiarity and reputation are two things that can go overlooked when it comes to making a decision to play for a certain team, program or coach.

Familiarity and reputation are two things that can go overlooked when it comes to making a decision to play for a certain team, program or coach.

In the case of the Nipissing Lakers women’s basketball’s two latest signings, those were huge reasons why they have signed a pair of players who have the potential to accelerate the program’s development.

The Lakers will welcome Taylor Wells, a 19-year-old Ottawa, Ontario native who will be entering the BPHE/B.Ed. program at Nipissing University and Ali Czich, another player coming to the Lakers from the nation’s capital, who will be enrolling in either BPHE or Nursing when school begins in September.

Both players have had previous experience with Lakers head coach Marg Jones and because of that, both feel that Nipissing is a great place to continue their careers.

And that’s something Coach Jones is excited about.

“Taylor and Ali are both athletes whom I’ve known for a few years and have had the privilege of coaching during their High school careers in the Centre for Performance Training pods,” said Jones, whose team failed to hit the win column in its inaugural season in the OUA.  

“They are both players that bring size and athleticism to our perimeter and small forward spots. They are versatile players who will create matchup issues for other teams. “

Wells, a 6-foot guard who will join the team in the role of perimeter player as her goals set on a teaching career upon Graduation from Nipissing. Taylor has battled injuries and while that limited her playing time late in her high school career it has given her a better understanding of the game and what it takes to be successful at the next level.

“My hope for the Lakers in my freshman year is that we continue to build our systems and become a more unified team. Although it will only be the team’s second year, my hope is that with Marg's optimism and coaching style that we will be able reach the .500 mark in terms of wins and losses in our season,” she said.

“It will be all about building and growing together as a team to become unified and be able to work together to achieve a common goal. My expectation for myself is to become a leader on and off the court for our team and to become a key player during our 2015-16 season.”

Wells, who knows Jones from her time playing basketball in Ottawa, is also following her parents in a way by playing in the CIS.

Both of Wells parents played for Carleton University during their careers and she is taking the same path.

She says despite her injuries and a few surgeries, she will be ready to go when the season begins in the fall. 

“I am a very aggressive player who loves to score and make plays. Although I am almost 6-feet tall, I love to dribble the ball, drive to the basket and shoot threes. Being a tall player who is not in the key is something I definitely use to my advantage,” she explained.

“It is very rare to find someone tall enough to block my shots or to match up with my speed so I love shooting over short girls and blocking people's shots when on defense.”

That combination of size and speed will give the Lakers another dimension when it comes to both offence and defense.

Added coach Jones, “Prior to her hip injury, Taylor was a standout at Louis Riel SS under the guidance of Cadet National Team coach Andres Desjardins and was ranked one of the top 20 players in her age group in Canada. Taylor has been relentless in her commitment to her recovery and now to her training. I am confident that in our program she will return to her previous level of play on the court.  We are so excited to give her the opportunity to return to the game that she loves.”

Czich, who is making her way to Nipissing as a transfer from Carleton University after 1 season of play with the Ravens, said Coach Jones was a big part of that transfer decision.

The former Ottawa JUEL athlete and former three-time City All-Star is already counting down the days to get to work with her new teammates.

“I'm really excited to play for Coach Marg again. She's a very dedicated and caring coach that has a lot of knowledge of basketball that I can't wait to learn from. I'm also excited to get to play with a lot of girls who are my former teammates from both Juel Ottawa and Glebe Collegiate,” she said.

One of the things that Czich and Wells both have in common is their aggressive style of play; an attribute that will go a long way in helping the Lakers become a more competitive and much tougher team at both ends of the court.

“I'd like to say I'm a pretty aggressive, fast and committed player,” added Czich.

“I've always been strong defensively and I’m usually matched up with the other team’s best forward. I'm working hard during the off-season to become a better outside shooter and ball handler. I want to come into next season with a whole new set of skills and I'm excited to return to CIS play as a more dynamic player.”

Jones feels that with the addition of these two players, combined with a very strong recruiting class and group of returning athletes that Lakers Women’s Basketball is taking on an impressive identity and one she is already very proud of. 

“Ali and Taylor are experienced and aggressive players who will add a new dynamic to our roster next season," said Jones.  

"I am excited to welcome them to our program and am pleased that they have chosen Nipissing University for their academic and athletic careers.”