2024 ACAC Women's Basketball Rookies of the Year
Edmonton, AB (February 29, 2024) –
North Female Rookie of the Year | Hineaupounamu Nuku | Lakeland Rustlers:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce Hineaupounamu Nuku of the Lakeland Rustlers has been selected as the 2023 - 2024 ACAC Women’s Basketball North Division Rookie of the Year.
Nuku led her Lakeland Rustlers to a perfect 20-0 season. The starting point guard scored 14.2 points per game, had 4.5 rebounds a game, averaged 5.5 assists per game and 2.8 steals per game. She led the ACAC in total assists, assists per game and assist to turnover ratio. Nuku started all 20 games for the Rustlers and averaged 27.2 minutes per game. On top of an impressive stat line, she was tasked with guarding the opposing teams top players each game.
“Hineaupounamu has been a dynamic play maker for our team all season and is a huge reason for the success we have had to this point," commented Chris King Lakeland’s head coach. “She brings energy and excitement to the gym everyday with her magnetic personality. The progress she has made in her freshman season has been outstanding.”
Hineaupounamu is from Tauranga, New Zealand and is currently enrolled in the Business Administration diploma program at Lakeland. She was also a Captain of New Zealand’s U15 Oceanic team and awarded an All-Star 5 at the FIBA Oceania Championships Tournament in 2018.
This prestigious award will be recognized at the 2024 ACAC Women’s Basketball Championship hosted by St. Mary’s University in Calgary, AB. The Rookie of the Year award is proudly sponsored by Vereburn Medical Supply.
South Female Rookie of the Year | Asia Wells | Briercrest Clippers:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce Asia Wells of the Briercrest Clippers has been selected as the 2023-2024 ACAC Female South Rookie of the Year.
Asia was the leading rookie scorer in the south division averaging 10.1 points per game to go along with 5.2 rebounds per game, 1.9 steals per game while shooting 75% from the free throw line. Asia was a force for the Clippers in second semester filling in strong when injuries hit averaging 13.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game over the last nine games of the regular season.
In the Clippers quarter-final matchup, Wells was named player of the game in the Clippers upset over top seeded Lethbridge College, with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 assists.
Furthermore, in the Clippers' divisional play-in game against the Ambrose Lions, Asia recorded 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. Throughout the year, Asia has been named ACAC player of the game multiple times and has received the Briercrest Athletics student athlete of the week award on multiple occasions.
Asia has been a huge part of our season providing huge minutes for our team off the bench, she has already established herself as an impact player for our team as well as someone that girls look to for leadership. She has established herself as a leader on the floor having been a coach’s kid growing up and having a high IQ of the game. She is a great part of our team culture and someone that is a lot of fun to watch on the court and great to be around off the court.
Originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, Asia attended Harvest City Christian School, where she was a 5A provincial silver medalist in basketball and won a 4A provincial championship.
This prestigious award will be recognized at the 2024 ACAC Women’s basketball Championship hosted by St. Mary’s Lightning in Calgary, Alberta. The Rookie of the Year award is proudly sponsored by Vereburn Medical Supply.
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About the ACAC: The ACAC is the governing body for intercollegiate athletics in Alberta. Its mission is to provide competitive collegiate sport experiences, promote academic achievement and be a leader of sport development in Canada.
For more information on the ACAC, please visit our website: www.acac.ab.ca
For additional information, contact:
Mark Kosak, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Chief Executive Officer
403-875-7329
markk@acac.ab.ca
Alan Rogan, Lakeland Rustlers
Athletic Director
780-853-8405
Alan.Rogan@lakelandcollege.ca
Stan Peters, Briercrest Clippers
Athletic Director
306-681-3676
speters@briercrest.ca
Kayla Blacquiere, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
kaylab@acac.ab.ca