Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
The Algoma University Thunderbirds women’s and men’s basketball teams opened their 2026-2027 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) regular season at the George Leach Centre over the October 23 and 24 weekend, hosting the Brock Badgers on Friday before welcoming the Queen’s Gaels on Saturday.
Both Thunderbirds programs faced challenging competition against two visiting OUA opponents, with the Brock women defeating Algoma 66-53, while the Badgers men earned a 100-53 victory. On Saturday, the Queen’s women posted a 106-40 win, followed by an 86-51 victory for the Gaels men.
Despite the results, the opening weekend provided Algoma with an early opportunity to compete against established OUA programs and evaluate its strengths as the new season gets underway.
Brock Badgers Open Weekend with Wins Over Algoma
The weekend began Friday evening with the women’s matchup, as Brock earned a 66-53 victory over the Thunderbirds.
Vienna Verscesi led the Badgers with 12 points and 12 rebounds in 25 minutes of action. Shailah Adams and Jamie Addy also contributed 10 points apiece, with Adams collecting two rebounds in 22 minutes and Addy recording one rebound in 30 minutes.
Algoma had three players reach double figures in the scoring column. Maya Francisco finished with 10 points and four rebounds in 28 minutes, while Justine Pierre recorded 10 points and six rebounds in 27 minutes.
Benie Bambila rounded out the Thunderbirds’ leading scorers with 10 points and a team-high 11 rebounds in 23 minutes, providing a strong presence on the boards.
The men’s contest followed at 8 p.m., with Brock recording a 100-53 victory over Algoma.
Zach Hawley led the Badgers’ offensive attack with 28 points and four rebounds in 22 minutes. Pockar Birch added 19 points and two rebounds in 21 minutes, while Carlos Magnus contributed 16 points and six rebounds in 22 minutes.
Tyson Francisco paced the Thunderbirds with 19 points and two rebounds in 25 minutes. Logan Whitmell, from Garden River, Ontario, added 11 points and three rebounds in 22 minutes, while Sault Ste. Marie native Justin Grant contributed seven points and three rebounds in 15 minutes.
Queen’s Gaels Complete Saturday Sweep
The Thunderbirds returned to the court Saturday for their second night of OUA action, facing the Queen’s Gaels in a pair of games.
In the women’s matchup, Queen’s secured a 106-40 victory over Algoma.
Ally Smith, Haley Barbieri and Katrina Renon each scored 16 points to lead the Gaels. Smith added four rebounds in 23 minutes, while Barbieri recorded one rebound in 16 minutes. Renon contributed one rebound while playing 25 minutes.
Pierre led Algoma offensively with 14 points and four rebounds in 31 minutes. Bambila added six points and one rebound in 20 minutes, while Neela Chanderdat finished with five points and one rebound in 22 minutes.
Pierre’s performance gave her a second consecutive game as one of Algoma’s leading offensive contributors, following her 10-point effort against Brock on Friday.
The men’s game wrapped up the weekend at 8:00 p.m, with Queen’s earning an 86-51 win over the Thunderbirds.
Ashton Bain led the Gaels with 17 points and seven rebounds in 30 minutes. Sami Uraz contributed 14 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes, while Noah Budgell added 13 points and four rebounds in 23 minutes.
Algoma had three players finish with double-digit scoring totals. Shalom Anyikwa recorded 11 points and six rebounds in 19 minutes, while Bing Deng also scored 11 points, adding two rebounds in 22 minutes.
Kal-El Alejo led the Thunderbirds in scoring with 10 points and four rebounds in 28 minutes of action.
Thunderbirds Prepare for First Road Trip
Following their opening four games at the George Leach Centre, the Algoma women’s and men’s basketball programs will head to the nation’s capital for their first road trip of the 2026-2027 regular season.
The Thunderbirds will face the Carleton Ravens on Friday, October 30, before taking on the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Saturday, October 31.
Both evenings will feature a 6:00 p.m women’s tipoff followed by the men’s game at 8:00 p.m.
After a demanding opening weekend against Brock and Queen’s, Algoma will look to build on its early-season experience as the Thunderbirds continue their OUA campaign in Ottawa.
