Sharpshooter Bowering commits to CAPERS

 By Corey LeBlanc

SYDNEY – An aspiring doctor is expected to help remedy the outside shooting challenges that the Cape Breton University (CBU) CAPERS women's basketball team has faced in recent seasons.

Alicia Bowering – who established a reputation as one of the top three-point shooters in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) over her first two campaigns – also gained a wealth of experience in the conference as a key contributor to the UPEI Panthers.

"I am super excited," the soon-to-be 22-year-old said of her decision to don CAPER orange next season.

Veteran CBU head coach Fabian McKenzie said they are "thrilled" to add the 5'10" guard.

"We can't wait to have her join the program and be a major contributor," he added.

The island-to-island move for Bowering is the latest chapter in a basketball journey that began in her native Orangeville, Ontario, which is located just more than 80 kilometres northwest of Toronto.

Growing up, she played a variety of sports, including soccer. That time on the pitch ended up introducing her to the hardwood, when a friend on her rep team encouraged her to go to a basketball tryout.

"I fell in love – it was so fast and competitive," Bowering – who was 10 at the time – remembered of her first experience on the court.

The student-athlete, who also played volleyball and participated in track and field, added that she "loved the speed [of basketball]."

And, for her, it perfectly fulfilled her passion for the comradery offered by team sports.

Although she embraced basketball, Bowering didn't hang up her soccer cleats; she played both sports at a competitive level until Grade 10. At that point, because of the travel involved with doing so, she made the decision to focus on one of them.

"It was getting to be too much," she recalled of her two-sport approach.

Even though she turned her attention solely to basketball, Bowering continues to appreciate how playing several sports growing up helped her development as an athlete. She noted that it also prevented her from "burning out" from concentrating on one sport.

When it was time to decide where she would continue her athletic and academic development at the post-secondary level, Bowering opted to head east to UPEI.

Her first year on Canada's smallest province was basketball-free, with the global pandemic wiping out the AUS season in 2000-2001. One year removed, in a freshman campaign with the Panthers that featured a COVID-related abbreviated schedule, Bowering left her mark with 27 three-pointers, while shooting 41.5 per cent from beyond the arc in 13 regular season games. While garnering a nod on the AUS all-rookie team, she averaged 9.2 points and 27.6 minutes per game.

She followed up that first-year effort with a stellar sophomore season, one in which she averaged 11.4 points per game in 28.6 minutes. Bowering made 53 three-pointers, while shooting at a 42.4 per cent clip from downtown. She also made 93.5 per cent of her free throws.

"It really developed," Bowering said of her shooting at the university level.

After playing point guard for most of her high school career, she noted that she made the move to the four-spot during most of her time with the Panthers.

"I take great pride in it," Bowering offered of her defensive prowess, including the ability to "guard a variety of positions," not only smaller players, but also taller and bigger opponents.

During her one-year absence from AUS competition, and as she prepares to join the CAPERS, she pointed out that she has been working on developing and diversifying her skill set, including "my game off the dribble."

Noting that there is a "target on my back," considering the reputation she has established as a three-point shooting threat, Bowering stressed the importance of having options when opponents focus on preventing her from doing damage from downtown.

"I want to make an impact," she said of joining the "winning" CBU program.

McKenzie offered that Bowering brings "so many different things to the table," starting with her character.

"Alicia is a hard-working young woman, on and off the court. She is very dedicated to success in the classroom and on the basketball court, which will help push her teammates to excel," he added.

McKenzie explained that Bowering's outside shooting ability "will help open up the paint for others, as she will draw a lot of attention."

Nevertheless, although she has proven to be a "shooter at an elite level in our league," the CBU mentor indicated that Bowering brings much more to the CAPERS.

"Alicia scores in multiple ways and brings the knowledge and depth of experience that will help us right away," he said.

McKenzie added, "She is a very competitive player who will bring energy and intensity to both ends of the court."

When it comes to making the move to CBU, Bowering described her decision as a "mix of academic and athletic" elements.

Along with getting to join one of the top AUS women's basketball programs, she explained that educational opportunities she could access at CBU were a "huge factor." She credited chemistry professor Allen Britten, the academic advisor for CBU Athletics, for helping her create a program – including in the area of research – that will help her fulfill her goal to attend medical school.

Along with taking on those academic challenges, Bowering – who will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree from UPEI later this spring – said that she is looking forward to "getting to know them [her teammates] better," while noting how much she enjoyed meeting her new teammates during her campus visit.

"I am really excited," she said, noting the CAPERS boast a roster "full of talent."

Bowering added, "They are going to make me a better player."

Noting that winning an AUS banner is "definitely the goal," she pledged to do everything she can to contribute to the "championship culture" found with the CBU women's basketball program.

"I am itching to get started," Bowering said.

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