Vienna’s wait is over: Badgers 10-0 in 2024
Vienna Vercesi’s long injury layoff finally came to an end last weekend in Thunder Bay against the Lakehead University Thunderwolves.
The 19-year-old Niagara Falls native had one point, three rebounds and three assists in 10 minutes of playing time in the first game Friday, and on Saturday she played nine minutes and recorded four points and two rebounds.
She described her Ontario University Athletics debut as nerve-wracking.
“I was pacing before the game but after I heard my name being called and I stepped on the court everything went OK,” the Niagara Prep product said. “You are OK, you are able to play, all my nerves went away and I was good to go.”
On Friday, she made her first appearance on home court in a 67-52 victory over the Windsor Lancers.
“It felt 100 per cent different. It was the first time my mom was able to watch me play in two and half years. She was a little bit antsy which made me a little bit antsy but it was good.”
Vercesi’s 5-foot-11 frame came in handy against the Lancers, who had a height advantage on the Badgers, especially when starting forward Tito Akinnusi got in early foul trouble and then rolled her ankle with 6:25 left in the game. She ended up playing 16 minutes and contributing four points, five rebounds and two assists.
Brock head coach Mike Rao appreciated her play against the Lancers.
“They (Windsor) are big and they are physical and that’s her game,” he said. “She has a little ways to go but she is helping out. You can see that.”
The kinesiology major feels she can bring a lot of physicality to the floor for the Badgers.
“It’s being big, being tough, diving after loose balls, going after rebounds and just being a big presence both internal and external.”
She knows getting her cardio back into game shape is her biggest challenge.
“One hundred per cent. Running a 5K compared to playing in a basketball game are two different things so I have to get back into the flow of the games. It will come to me slowly but surely.”
Her main priority is helping Brock win games and she has set a couple of personal goals to help make that a reality.
“I want to get back to getting double digits in boards and double digits in points, either category per game, and getting back to having no time cap. I want to have a presence and be a useful player for this team.”
Vercesi tore the ACL in her left knee during a Niagara Prep practice in September 2022. It was the first significant injury of her career.
“Honestly it is a mental game. It is more mental than physical and you just have to put yourself in a positive environment. You have to take it as a challenge,” she said. “You can’t see it as a setback. You have to see it as a hurdle to get over and take it in a positive light. Sitting on the bench and watching people gives you a different perspective.”
The low point in the recovery came right around the 12-month mark.
“I was cleared by my surgeon to go and with the school it was a bit of a cat and mouse game. I was yes one week and no one week and it was bit of a challenge, especially when you are anticipating that you are going to play and you’re not able to play.”
On Saturday, Vercesi played nine minutes and scored two points as the Badgers beat visiting Western 65-58 to push their winning streak to 10 games and improve to 15-4 in league play.
The game was tied 35-35 at the half and 45-45 after three quarters before Brock outscored Western 20-13 in the final quarter to record the victory.
STATS PACK
Badgers 65 Mustangs 58
BPSN Player of the Game: Brock’s Madalyn Weinert with 26 points, including 14-14 from the free-throw line, 17 rebounds, six assists, six steals and two blocked shots.
For the Brock Badgers: Weinert 26; Olivia Fiorucci 15; Tito Akinnusi 8; Allison Addy 5.
For the Western Mustangs: MacKeely Shantz 28; Emily Capretta 12; Sam Vidovic 7.
Game stats: Shooting percentage: Brock 36.7, Western 31.8. Free throws: Brock 18-20, Western 12-16. Rebounds: Brock 30, Western 35. Turnovers: Brock 13, Western 17.
Up next: Brock (15-4) hosts Laurentian next Friday at 6 p.m
