Bazzi’s career winding down: 11 straight wins for Brock
Noor Bazzi was fighting back the tears as she and fellow graduating seniors Olivia Fiorucci and Keren Tshinyama Kasonga were honoured Friday night following the Brock Badgers women’s basketball team’s 58-39 victory over the Laurentian Voyageurs in Ontario University Athletics play.
“Not successful. I won’t lie” she said, when asked if she had prevailed in the battle of the tears. “I know that I am going to go back in that (dressing) room and there is going to be a lot more. I am just super thankful just everyone: the Brock community; (Mike) Rao; Rick (LoStracco); Frank (Capretta); anyone who has anything to do with Brock. I know I wouldn’t have wanted to end my basketball career anywhere else.”
The 23-year-old Windsor native will graduating next year with a degree on social sciences but 2023-24 is her final year of eligibility.
“I wish I knew Brock five years sooner but everything happens for a reason and I am just thankful to be here,” the 5-foot-9 guard said.
Bazzi will take many things with her from her time at Brock.
“It is the sense of community that you get just playing the sport that you love with people that you love. It’s just taking every moment, cherishing everything that you have, not taking anything for granted, putting in the work and seeing the progress and everything that comes with it,” she said. “It has been a hard year, it was hard last year and we have come from a lot. I am very proud of everyone who has anything to do with our success.”
Bazzi knew almost right away Brock would be a perfect fit.
“It was all moments and every single moment has reminded me how beneficial this decision was for me, my family and everyone involved.”
Her game has evolved during her two years from Brock as she became a defensive presence instead of mainly an offensive player.
“Being an offensive threat is hard in itself and adding that defensive threat makes it a lot easier for everyone else on the court. I know that if I do my job defensively it makes it easier for Madalyn (Weinert) to do her job defensively. It is very important to me because if I am not having a good shooting day — which I have had in prior games — I have been holding that defensive fort down and bringing energy. The intensity really picks up my other teammates and at the end of the day defence wins games. I just switched gears and I haven’t been able to stop.”
Brock’s win over Laurentian was its 11th straight and pushed the Badgers record to 16-4, good enough for first place in the OUA Central Division.
Bazzi is excited to see how far the Badgers can go this season.
“We are going on the right track. Everyone can see that. We can’t get too high or too low as Rao says. We need to maintain that energy, keep doing what we are doing, play the game we want and not let anyone else control what we can do.”
When her playing career is over, Bazzi expects to fuel her competitive fires by coaching.
“Down the road once I have recovered from not being an athlete any more, I think coaching will definitely be my calling,” she said. “I love helping people and I love basketball so combining those two seems like pure happiness for me.”
Head coach Rao will be sad to see her go.
“We are going to miss her but she still has some games left and she is getting there. She is a very good player.”
Rao has loved how she has taken her defence to a new level.
“She is really assertive this year, she is watching the ball a lot more and she moving well.”
He couldn’t say the same for his team’s offence versus Laurentian.
“We didn’t move the ball well and we didn’t move ourselves well,” he said. “We were a little lethargic tonight and I don’t know if it was because of seniors’ night.”
On the other side of the floor, the Badgers’ defence was excellent, holding the visitors to under 40 points.
STATS PACK
Badgers 58 Voyageurs 39
BPSN Player of the Games: Graduating seniors Noor Bazzi, Olivia Fiorucci and Keren Tshinyama Kasonga.
For the Brock Badgers: Madalyn Weinert 19; Vienna Vercesi 9; Tito Akinnusi 6.
For the Laurentian Voyageurs: Princess Bernardino 9; Audrey-Anne Labreche 9.
Game stats: Shooting percentage: Brock 37.7, Laurentian 19. Free throws: Brock 9-13, Laurentian 9-14. Rebounds: Brock 41, Laurentian 32. Turnovers: Brock 17, Laurentian 16.
Up next: Brock (16-4) is at McMaster Saturday at 6 p.m.
