The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

For the second consecutive year, Leashja Grant has been recognised as the most dominant player in her conference as she prepares to lead her Lakehead Thunderwolves into the postseason.

Grant was named the Ontario University Athletics Player of the Year for the 2018-19 season after she averaged 20.6 points and 12.5 rebounds for the nationally ranked Thunderwolves. She led the OUA in both points and rebounds per game including a league leading 4.4 offensive rebounds per game. She also finished 5th in the OUA in steals.

“Leashja Grant has been absolutely terrific for us,” Thunderwolves head coach John Kreiner said. “She does what’s asked of her by making the extra pass and playing tough defence. Her steals this year are amazing as she leads our team (and our team leads the OUA). She has become a complete player and her teammates have benefited because of that.”

She also finished with a conference-leading 18 double-doubles in 24 games.

Last season Grant averaged 22.3 points and 14.1 points per game over the course of the season and was named Ontario University Athletics Player of the Year and a U SPORTS 1st Team All-Canadian. She not only led the conference but also ranked as the second-leading scorer and top rebounder in the country. Grant also holds the U SPORTS record for most rebounds in a single season with 338 in 24 games.

Grant, the 6’ 2” forward, is pursuing an honours bachelor in psychology.

Prior to her tenure in Canada, Grant last played collegiately for the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Big 12 at the NCAA Division I level during the 2015-16 season. She averaged 7.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for the Red Raiders in her lone season in Lubbock, Texas.

Visa issues prevented Grant from returning to the Red Raiders for a second season and forced her to sit out a year.

She spent the past off-season with a noteworthy appearance on the women’s senior national team for the second time.

Despite a 5th place finish at the Women’s Centrobasket Championships, Grant led the Bahamas and averaged a double double with 15.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.

Prior to her time with Texas Tech, Grant played at the junior college level with the Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals.

In her sophomore and final season with the Cardinals, Grant averaged a double double with 12.1 points and 12.9 rebounds per game.