GUELPH, Ont. – Coming off a season that saw them fight to the bitter end, it should come as no surprise that a pair of Guelph Gryphon's women's basketball players have been recognized by the OUA. Leading her team in points per game, while also finishing top two in both assists per game and rebounds per game, Burke Bechard is once again being honoured by the OUA, while freshman guard MacKeely Shantz, who stormed on to the scene in her first year with the Gryphons is also being given a conference honour.
Burke Bechard - OUA Second Team All-Star
Bechard, a 5'9 guard out of Dover Centre, Ontario, continues to work her way into the OUA awards year after year. After being named to the OUA All-Rookie Team her freshman season in 2017-18, she then was named an OUA 3rd-Team All-Star last season, and now following another strong campaign in 2019-20 has been named an OUA 2nd-Team All-Star.
Viewed among her coaching staff and teammates as the leader of their squad, no matter the time or situation, the Gryphons knew they could rely on their 3rd-year Psychology major at any moment.
Despite having to deal with a lower-body injury that forced her out of the line-up for a few games, Bechard still managed to put together a stat line that saw her record 12.8 points per game, to go with 7.2 rebounds per game and 3.1 assists per game. A constant spark for the Gryphs, Bechard made a point of going to the dirty areas all season, while using every ounce of energy she had each and every night. Finishing 2nd in the conference, Bechard averaged a tremendous 3.6 offensive rebounds per game. The Gryphon's guard was the only player in the category's top-10 to be listed smaller than 5'11, with the average height of the group above 6'0, which simply shows how much heart and determination Bechard plays with on the court.
MacKeely Shantz - OUA All-Rookie Team
Earning the team's first All-Rookie Team nomination since Bechard's in 2017-18, MacKeely Shantz was a more than a deserving candidate for the honour. In her freshman season, Shantz led the team in rebounds per game averaging 7.9 and total rebounds with 173, which ranked her 7th in the OUA. Using her 5'11 frame to take care of the glass, the Plattsville, Ont. native also showcased her ability to score. Averaging double-digits in points for the season with an even 10, Shantz had the third highest average on the team. 
Although she was able to put up strong numbers throughout her first season, Shantz's most impressive stat may be how much Coach Walton was able to rely on her. Playing 648 regular season minutes, she logged the second most by a Gryphon this year, only behind Skyla Minaker, while also finishing top-4 in minutes among OUA true-freshman.
Both Bechard and Shantz will serve as key pieces to the Gryphon's roster heading into next season, as they look to build off the success of their 2019-20 campaign. For more information on the rest of the OUA all-stars and major award winners from the 2019-20 women's basketball season, visit oua.ca.
2019-20 OUA Women's Basketball Major Award Winners
Player of the Year: Melissa Tatti (Brock)
Coach of the Year: Mike Rao (Brock)
Rookie of the Year: Helena Lamoureux (Laurentian)
Defensive Player of the Year: Christina Buttenham (McMaster)
Joy Bellinger Award: Julia Curran (Western)
Tracy MacLeod Award: Maddy Horst (Western)
2019-20 OUA Women's Basketball All-Stars
OUA First Team All-Stars
Melissa Tatti (Brock)
Brooklyn McAlear-Fanus (Ottawa)
Maddy Horst (Western)
Alyssa Cerino (Carleton)
Christina Buttenham (McMaster)
OUA Second Team All-Stars
Marin Scotten (Ryerson)
Lauren Golding (York)
Kayah Clarke (Windsor)
Samantha Keltos (Brock)
Burke Bechard (Guelph)
OUA Third Team All-Stars
Sarah Gates (McMaster)
Elizabeth Leblanc (Western)
Katherine Follis (Ottawa)
Emma Ritcey (Queen's)
Hayley Robertson (Ryerson)
OUA All-Rookie Team
Helena Lamoureux (Laurentian)
MacKeely Shantz (Guelph)
Tatyanna Burke (Carleton)
Natsuki Szcokin (Ottawa)
Kali Pocrnic (Carleton)
