The UNBC women’s basketball program has undoubtedly been improving for the last number of years in reaching the playoffs for four consecutive seasons.
In addition to having a strong post player in Emma vanBruinessen, the Timberwolves are adding another potential defensive star, but in the guard’s position.
Bella Mesquita has committed to the 2020-21 Canada West campaign with the Prince George school and has made headlines with both her size and skill-set across all aspects of the game.
She believes her five-foot-11 stature can help her new team get to the playoffs a fifth straight year.
“I think I am very versatile,” said Mesquita in a UNBC Athletics release.
“I am almost six-feet-tall, so I can play inside if you need me to, but I can also knock down threes. I think I can be a threat on the court, for other teams to have to look for. The university game is faster, and more physical, but I am looking forward to that.”
Mesquita played both high school and club basketball in Calgary.
The 17-year-old understands making the jump to Canada’s highest-level of university sport will be a challenge but she’s confident her five-day-a-week training regiment is preparing her for that opportunity.
“That is what is most rewarding, knowing I did it, like my coaches told me many times I could. I didn’t know if I could play at the U SPORTS level, so this is rewarding.
“You can definitely see that the speed and level of play is a lot faster than what I am used to. That stuck out to me. But, you can see they all play well together and know where each other are on the court. The coaches and the players communicate very well.”
Mesquita is set to graduate from St. Mary’s High School, where her Saints finished 8-2 this past season, but lost in the playoff semi-finals.
She’ll join the T-Wolves in August for training camp and plans to major in psychology at UNBC.
