Fanshawe's women's basketball members win big this year

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: PHOTOS PROVIDED BY FANSHAWE ATHLETICS
Fanshawe's women's basketball coach wins Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) coach of the year and Chuot Angou is named OCAA women's basketball player of the year.

The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) women’s basketball championship banquet took place in Kingston on Feb. 27.

One of Fanshawe’s own, Chuot Angou, was awarded the best women’s basketball player in the province and head coach Bill Carriere was named the top coach.

Angou was also named February’s SupplementSource.ca female student-athlete of the month. According to a Feb. 27 press release from Fanshawe Athletics, Angou lead the women’s basketball team in points with an average of 17.3 points per game.

In addition to this, Angou scored 345 points throughout the season and set a new Fanshawe women’s basketball record for the most points in a single season.

“Receiving this recognition still feels somewhat unexplainable,” Angou said. “It was totally unexpected which is why I am even more thankful for it especially considering the amount of talent in the league.”

In an interview with Interrobang, Angou said she has been playing basketball since she was 12 years old. She started through a London house league and then eventually played competitive basketball with the same league until she graduated from high school.

“Choosing to come to Fanshawe last year is a choice that I will forever be thankful I made because I would not have been able to be coached by such a great coaching staff and family,” Angou said. “They have helped me realize that nothing comes easy and to constantly work hard.”

According to Angou, being a part of the Fanshawe women’s basketball team has allowed her to build a strong relationship with her teammates and coaches.

“My coaches have helped me in more ways than I can explain and in more ways than they probably even know,” Angou said. “They’ve helped me become a better person on and off the court by holding me to a higher standard and constantly pushing me to do my best.”

Carriere had positives to share about Angou and her recent honour.

“Chuot is deserving of this for so many reasons but I will sum it up with this,” Carriere said. “She is a true competitor.”

According to the Feb. 27 press release, Angou is OCAA’s nominee for the Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association (CCAA) player of the year, which will be awarded on Mar. 13.

“She [Angou] is an elite athlete and does what she needs to do to win games on both ends of the floor,” Carriere said. “The girl can score the basketball.”

According to Carriere, fourth year Angou has one more year left of eligibility.

“She has an incredible ability to get to the rum and can shoot and create herself off the dribble,” Carriere said.

Carriere and his wife Theresa, coached for seven years from 1987- 94 and started again in 2013 making this his 13th year of coaching. This is Carriere’s fifth time winning the OCAA coach of the year award after winning it in 1987-88, 1991-92, 1992-93 and 1993-94.

“Winning coach of the year is rewarding because it is voted on from other coaches in the league,” Carriere said.

Carriere said that his coaching staff is made up of him and his family and they are all equally deserving of this award.

“Their input and knowledge is invaluable,” Carriere said. “You can ask any of our players and they will tell you how much we are a coaching team.”

According to the Feb. 27 press release, Carriere’s team set a number of single season records this year such as wins (19), points scored (1627), made field goals (646), made 3-pointers (143), assists (425) and rebounds (1030).

“The main benefit of coaching is giving student athletes a great college experience while watching them grow as individuals and as players,” Carriere said. “Of course, winning makes it even more fun.”