HAWKS WOMEN SET TO HOST CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

ETOBICOKE: The Humber Hawks women's basketball team, 2015 OCAA champions, will start their exhibition season much earlier than normal as they will host the Central Michigan University Chippewas on Sunday, August 9/15. The tip is set for a 3:15 pm tip, from the Humber Athletic Centre.

Within an interesting and progressive rule, NCAA teams are provided the opportunity to visit and play Canadian colleges and universities on selected years. Humber has participated in this type of play previously and has competed very well in all matches.

The Chippewas are a NCAA Division I team, and compete in the Mid-American Conference. Last year they finished the year with an overall record of thirteen wins and eighteen losses. In conference play they had a mark of seven wins and eleven losses, and lost to number five Western Michigan in the MAC tournament by a score of 81-68. They had previously defeated WMU just a few weeks earlier on their home court in Mount Pleasant.

CMU returns nine players from its 2015 roster, including the fifth and sixth leading scorers in Da'Jourie Turner (9.0 ppg) and Jewel Cotton (7.8 ppg). Although there are significant number of returning players, the Chippewas lose their top four scorers, including Crystal Bradford and her production of 19.6 points per game.

Humber enters this game just off their best performance in years, which included the OCAA title and a very good run in the CCAA National championships. Although this is very early, the Hawks should field a very competitive team as they only lose a couple of players from last year's roster.

The Hawks, as mentioned above, are a veteran laden crew. They are led by CCAA championship All Star CJ Nofuente and OCAA championship MVP Mary Asare. Returning after a year's absence is All Star Centre Chioma Oriuwa, and she is sure to add a physical presence under the glass. The biggest impact may be made by a freshman, as the highly touted Felicia Velasquez will take to the Humber hardwood and is expected to assume the point guard role.

The game should prove to be an exciting affair, with both teams using it as an audition for some players but also wanting to grab an early win.

The game will be streamed via a single camera feed, and can be seen by visiting:
http://mediaservices.humber.ca/live/Athletics/athleticsstream1/