VICTORIA, B.C. – First-year guard and University of Victoria Vikes women's basketball player
Amira Giannattasio picked up CIS All-Rookie Team honours at the CIS All-Canadian banquet held at Hilton Quebec on the eve of the 2015 CIS Final 8. The Hamilton, Ont. Native becomes just the second Vikes player to garner the rookie nod following high school team mate and St. Mary Catholic grad
Jenna Bugiardini in 2012-13.
CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE Giannattasio, this year's Canada West Rookie of the Year, exploded on to the post-secondary scene right from Victoria's opening exhibition games in early October to the post-season where the Vikes wrapped up their season as No. 4 in Canada West. It was the Vikes' first appearance at the Canada West Final Four since 2007.
This season Giannattasio was one of the team's top scorers in over half of their games and has the second-highest three-point shooting percentage on the team behind fifth-year forward
Jessica Renfrew. Giannattasio put up 36 three pointers in 84 attempts (42.9 per cent) and averaged 12 points per game.
The social sciences major recently put up 31 points against Trinity Western in the Vikes' final regular season game, while she is most remembered for her
buzzer-beating jumper against Lethbridge that was the start of an eight-game win streak into the playoffs. In the conference semifinal the Vikes were ousted from a spot at the CIS Final 8 after losing 77-61 to Saskatchewan. Giannattasio led all Vikes with 20 points. To close out the season Victoria lost in the final seconds to Alberta in the Canada West bronze-medal game. Giannattasio was again a heavy contributor knocking back 16 points.
Jylisa Williams, a fifth-year guard from Lakehead University, was named the CIS player of the year. Williams, who hails from Atlanta, Georgia, became the first Lakehead standout to claim the Nan Copp Award and only the third player from the Thunderwolves program to capture a major national award in women's basketball. She joins Lindsay Druery, who merited the Sylvia Sweeney Award in 2012, and Angela Hrkac, who received the Tracy MacLeod Award in 1999.
Other CIS award recipients announced during the All-Canadian Banquet held at Hilton Quebec were Windsor point guard Korissa Williams, who was named the defensive player of the year; Guelph guard Bridget Atkinson, who captured the Kathy Shields Award as the top rookie; Windsor's Chantal Vallée, who earned her second straight Peter Ennis Award as TIMEX coach of the year; Lethbridge forward Kimberley Veldman, who merited the Sylvia Sweeney Award which recognizes excellence in basketball, academics and community service; as well as Ottawa guard Kellie Ring, who was presented with the Tracy MacLeod Award for her determination and perseverance.
The ArcelorMittal Dofasco CIS championship gets underway Thursday on the campus of Laval University and culminates Sunday at 1 p.m. with the national final, live on Sportsnet 360. Saturday's semifinals are live on Sportsnet ONE (noon & 2:30 p.m.) and all 11 games from the eight-team tournament will also be webcast on
www.CIS-SIC.tv.
2014-2015 CIS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL AWARDS & ALL-CANADIANS
Nan Copp Award (player of the year): Jylisa Williams, Lakehead
Defensive player of the year: Korissa Williams, Windsor
Kathy Shields Award (rookie of the year): Bridget Atkinson, Guelph
Peter Ennis Award (TIMEX coach of the year): Chantal Vallée, Windsor
Sylvia Sweeney Award (basketball, academics & community service): Kimberley Veldman, Lethbridge
Tracy MacLeod Award: Kellie Ring, Ottawa
First Team
| Pos | Athlete | University | Year | Hometown | Program |
| G | Jylisa Williams | Lakehead | 5 | Atlanta, Georgia | Sociology |
| G | Kris Young | UBC | 5 | North Vancouver, B.C. | Arts |
| F | Mariam Sylla | McGill | 3 | Conakry, Guinea | Pharmacology |
| G | Courtney Thompson | Dalhousie | 5 | St John, N.B. | Commerce |
| G | Korissa Williams | Windsor | 5 | Windsor, O.N. | Business |
Second Team
| F | Saskia Van Ginhoven | Alberta | 4 | Edmonton, Alta. | Phys. Ed & Recreation |
| F | Whitney Ellenor | Wilfrid Laurier | 5 | Pickering, Ont. | History |
| G | Quételine Célestin | UQAM | 3 | Cayenne, France | Administration |
| F | Dalyce Emmerson | Saskatchewan | 4 | Prince Albert, Sask. | Kinesiology |
| F | Sarah Wierks | Fraser Valley | 5 | Chilliwack, B.C. | Kinesiology |
All-Rookie Team
| G | Bridget Atkinson | Guelph | 1 | Welland, Ont. | Sociology |
| G | Amira Giannattasio | Victoria | 1 | Hamilton, Ont. | Social Sciences |
| G | Kennisha Shanice-Luberisse | Saint Mary's | 1 | Montreal, Que. | Commerce |
| G | Michelle Bos | TRU | 1 | Surrey, B.C. | Science |
| W | Jane Gagné | Laval | 1 | Chicoutimi, Que. | Chemistry |
About Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Every year, over 11,500 student-athletes and 700 coaches from 56 universities and four regional associations vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit
www.cis-sic.ca or follow us on:
Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/CIS_SIC Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/cissportsYouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/universitysportInstagram:
http://www.instagram.com/CIS_SIC -CIS-
For more information:
Michel Bélanger
Communications & Media Relations
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Off: (613) 562-5670 ext. 25
Cell: (613) 447-6334
belanger@universitysport.ca
