NEWS : Three Gee-Gees honoured by OUA
The Gee-Gees had three members recognized by the OUA as part of the 2023-24 All-Stars and Major Award winners. Natsuki Szczokin and Ariane Saumure made repeat appearances on the conference All-Star team, while Victoria Brideau was named to the All-Rookie team.
Szczokin was the conference leader in assists, averaging 4.6 per game to establish a career high. The veteran point guard also ranked second in the conference in steals with 3.0 per game. In her fourth season with the Gee-Gees, Szczokin also posted a career high of 14.3 points per game, leading the team and ranking thirteenth in OUA.
This is the third all-star award for Szczokin, a criminology student from Barrie, Ont.; she was named to the OUA First Team this season after earning a place on the Third Team in 2022-23 and the OUA East Second Team in 2021-22. Sczcokin was also an OUA All-Rookie Team selection in 2019-20.
Ariane Saumure formed the second half of the Gee-Gees all-star back court in 2023 and was also a league-leader. Her 68 steals, 3.1 per game, ranked first in OUA and third in U SPORTS. The fourth-year guard also chipped in 11.4 points per game to rank second on the Ottawa lineup.
Saumure was named a 2023-24 OUA Third Team All-Star, after previously being recognized as an OUA Second Team All-Star in 2022-23, and an OUA West First Team All-Star in 2021-22, both with Western. Saumure was also the 2022-23 OUA Defensive Player of the Year. The Sudbury, Ont., product is studying Education at uOttawa.
Named to the OUA All-Rookie Team, Victoria Brideau logged 15.2 minutes per game for the Garnet and Grey this season and recorded 5.1 rebounds per game which ranked third on the team. The biomedical science student from Quebec City, Que., showed her defensive prowess with 18 blocks which ranked 15th in OUA.