Women's Basketball | 4/20/2018 11:59:00 PM

MONTREAL -- Alex Kiss-Rusk added two final pieces of hardware to her trophy case, Friday, as her star-studded collegiate career officially ended at the McGill University women's basketball awards gala, held at La Plaza in the EVO Montreal student residence on Sherbrooke Street.

The 6-foot-4 centre from Beaconsfield, Que., who returned home on Monday from the Commonwealth Games in Australia, was named as the team's most valuable player for the third straight year as well as being selected as the most outstanding defensive player for a second consecutive season.

Among other honours dished out by Martlets bench boss Ryan Thorne, was the Gerardo Rojas Him Memorial Award, which went to Stephanie Mondou for courage, dedication and commitment to the program through adversity. The sophomore guard from Sorel, Que., battled through a torn ACL joint in her knee.

Charlotte Clayton, an Arts & Science freshman from Newmarket, Ont., merited rookie-of-the-year honours, while the most improved player award was bestowed upon six-foot forward Kamsi Ogbudibe, a science freshman from Calgary. Geraldine Cabillo-Abante, a physical education junior from St. Laurent, Que., who is better known as "GG", took home her second straight Martlet Leadership Award, presented to the player who best exemplifies the characteristics and qualities of being a member of the Martlets.

Special recognition honours were presented to Carissa Tapia of Pte. Claire, Que., and Danielle Dobney of Toronto, both graduating after yeoman service to the program. Tapia, an elementary education senior, took over as director of basketball operations after her promising playing career was cut short by injuries. Dobney, a graduating PhD candidate focussed on concussions, served as the team's mental strength & physical preparation coach.

Finally, tribute was paid to the team's four graduating players, namely the aforementioned Kiss-Rusk and Tapia, as well as Frederique Potvin (social work) of Ste. Julie, Que., and Marie-Love Michel (physical & health education) of Montreal.

Kiss-Rusk, a fifth-year senior who graduated last year with a psychology degree, returned this year to study social work.  She led the basketball Martlets to their seventh RSEQ conference title, including the team's first national championship last year. She earned league MVP honours this past season and merited first-team All-Canadian status. She also played for Canada at tournaments in China and Japan, as well as the World Francophone Games in Abidjan (on the Ivory Coast of West Africa), the World University Games in Taipei and the previously mentioned Commonwealth Games. Kiss-Rusk graduates with 838 career points and a school record 583 rebounds in 64 regular season contests, averaging 13.1 and 9.1 per game, respectively. She also registered 121 career blocks for an average 1.9 per game. McGill's all-time scoring leader, in regular season play, is Hall of Fame inductee Vicky Tessier, who amassed 1,248 points and 493 rebounds in 63 games, averaging 19.8 and 7.8 per game, respectively.

Among the team's alumni spotted during the soiree was Annette Kiss, Maude Vallieres, Anneth Him-Lazarenko, Cheeka Mitchell, Rikki Bowles, Marika Guerin, Cynthia Santamaria, Marie-Eve Beaulieu-Demers, Stephanie Blais, Dianna Ros, Gabriela Hebert, Francoise Charest and Shannon Howard, who travelled the furthest distance to attend, making the trip from New York City, where she works for the United Nations.