2020 CCAA Women’s Basketball All-Canadians

Tessa Lannon-Paakspuu

Amber Lease

Camosun Chargers

VIU Mariners

The PACWEST Player of the Year ranked second in the conference with 14.5 points per game and third overall with 43 steels. Lannon-Paakspuu, a fifth-year guard, was also named the PACWEST Defensive Player of the Year. She is the embodiment of the word tenacious and shows her respect for the game by doing everything in her power to be the best player she can be. Lannon-Paakspuu, a CCAA National Scholar Award recipient, plans to pursue coaching in the future.

Lease led the Mariners to a first-place finish in the PACWEST with a 17-1 record. The two-time CCAA All-Canadian ranked first in the conference with 4.6 assists per game and averaged 11.6 points per game. Lease plays the game with an extreme level of passion and compete. Her energy and commitment to improving her game has helped create a culture of excellence for the Women’s Basketball program at VIU. Lease is an excellent student-athlete who also excels in the classroom.

Brittney Thibeaux

Sydney Hurlburt

Olds Broncos

NAIT Ooks

Thibeaux led the defending National Champion Broncos to an 18-3 record and first-place finish in the ACAC South Division. Two-time CCAA All-Canadian and 2019 CCAA Player of the Year ranked second in the ACAC with 25 points per game. Thibeaux, a fifth-year forward, was also among conference leaders with 207 rebounds, 58 steals and 49 blocks. The Olds captain leads by example with her work ethic and has helped with several community events, including the Broncos Back-to-School Basketball skills camp.

In her final year of eligibility, Hurlburt ranked among ACAC leaders with 15.3 points per game and shot 38.5% from three-point range. She ends her collegiate career as the Ooks’ all-time leader in both games played and three-pointers. Hurlburt is a fierce competitor and thoughtful leader who makes everyone around her better. She has been an ideal ambassador at NAIT and the heart and soul of the Ooks Women’s Basketball program for the past five seasons.

Chuot Angou

Kendra Oliver

Fanshawe Falcons

Durham Lords

The OCAA Player of the Year led the Falcons to a 17-1 record and tie atop the OCAA West Division standings. Angou ranked first in the conference with a 36.8 three-point percentage and an OCAA-record 89.6 free-throw percentage. The two-time CCAA All-Canadian ranked second in the OCAA with 28.5 points per 40 minutes. Angou is a true competitor who is willing to sacrifice her own personal success for that of the team, which reflects immensely on her character and team-first mentality.

The OCAA Rookie of the Year led the Lords to a 13-3 record and tie for second place in the OCAA East Division. Oliver ranked third in the conference with 19.4 points per game, second with 12.4 rebounds per game and added 52 steals. She recorded 12 double-doubles in 16 games and was a key part to the team’s offensive and defensive schemes. Oliver is a leader on the court and rallied the troops at Durham through tough stretches.

Taisha Exanor

Mackenzie Ash-Smith

Dawson Blues

Dawson Blues

The RSEQ Player of the Year led the Blues to a 15-1 record and first-place finish in the conference. Exanor, a third-year shooting guard, also averaged 7.6 rebounds per game. Her pleasant and calm presence exudes confidence. Despite her shy demeanor, Exanor is lethal on the court. She is a leader, guiding rookies through the rigorous academic demands at Dawson. Exanor also works at a basketball camp, volunteers at numerous events and mentors young girls through the Bleuhounds program.

Ash-Smith led the RSEQ with 19.5 points per game as well as 13.8 rebounds per game. The third-year forward led the Blues to a first-place finish in the competitive RSEQ with a 15-1 record. Ash-Smith’s positive energy is contagious, and her perseverance and strength have led the Blues to an outstanding season. Her outgoing vocal personality allows Ash-Smith to lead on and off the court. She is always enthusiastic and willing to give back to the Women’s Basketball program at Dawson.

Vanessa Soffee

Aki Kobayashi

St. Thomas Tommies

Holland Hurricanes

The ACAA Player of the Year led the Tommies to a first-place finish in the ACAA with a 15-3 record. Soffee, a second-year point guard, led the conference with 78 steals, ranked third with 4.7 assists per game and racked up an impressive 5.6 rebounds per game. Soffee holds herself accountable, is a great leader and role model and has the unique ability to make players around her better. She is an excellent ambassador for the Women’s Basketball program at St. Thomas.

Kobayashi, the ACAA Rookie of the Year, led the conference with 14.9 points per game and 5.4 assists per game. The first-year guard led the Hurricanes to a 13-5 record and third-place finish in the ACAA. The dynamic Kobayashi quickly established herself as an offensive threat on the court at Holland. Despite joining a new team in a new country and learning a new language, Kobayashi excelled with her work ethic and dedication to the game.