The SAIT Trojans women’s basketball team has high hopes after a successful 2016-17 season that saw them to take home a bronze medal at the Alberta College Athletic Conference (ACAC) championship tournament.
“Our goal for the season is to make the ACAC championship since we’re hosting it,” Ranbir Parmar, head coach of the SAIT Trojans women’s basketball team, said in an interview at the new season got under way.
There are eight returning players to the team this year, and two new players who have played in the ACAC before.
“Having eight players return to the team is the most I have had return since I took over as head coach in 2010,” said Parmar.
“Players coming back know the system and the first-year players we have are quick learners,” said Alicia Tan, a fifth-year guard and business administration degree student.
One of the new players is centre Melanie Thera, who used to be with the Trojans’ rival the Olds College Broncos. Thera, from Winnipeg, transferred to SAIT for the upcoming season.
“It’s different and exciting to see new faces, and it’s nice to play with them, rather than play against them,” said Thera, a fourth-year centre and EMT student.
“It has been hard trying to learn a new system, I’m just trying to do my part,” she said.
“Melanie brings us a true centre, something we didn’t have on last year’s team,” said Tan.
The Trojan women’s basketball team’s medal last season was its second in three years, said Tan.
“We want to win gold in this year’s ACAC championship, and then go on to Nationals.”
With SAIT hosting the ACAC championship tourney in the spring, the team is highly motivated the championship on its home court.
It would be their third ACAC championship in school history, and the first since the 2009-10 season.
The Trojans began their the regular season with a game against the Olds College Broncos.
