Maria Mongomo has set another benchmark for UNBC Timberwolves women's basketball.
Mongomo, a second-year guard from Las Palmas, Spain, was named a Canada West second-team all-star on Monday. She's the first player in program history to make a Canada West all-star team.
Last year, even though she missed part of the season because of visa issues, Mongomo was selected to the Canada West and Canadian Interuniversity Sport all-rookie teams – accomplishments that were also firsts for UNBC women's basketball.
During the 2016-17 Canada West campaign, Mongomo finished tied for eighth in scoring average with University of Victoria forward Jenna Bugiardini. Both players averaged 16.1 points per game. Mongomo also finished in the top 10 in several other categories, including: number of starts (20, first); minutes played (628, ninth); free throws made (78, seventh); defensive rebounds (116, 7th); total rebounds (155, ninth); rebounds per game (7.8, ninth); assists (56, ninth); steals (49, sixth); and points (322, sixth).
Despite her numbers, Mongomo was taken aback when she learned she had received recognition as a second-team all-star.
"This is crazy," she said. "It’s a big surprise. I can’t believe it.
"I just want to thank my teammates," she added. "This is a team sport and that connection of working everyday together, traveling together, practicing together – you create something together.
"They should know that without them, this award wouldn’t go to me."
With Mongomo leading the way, the Timberwolves – in their fifth season at the Canada West level – made the playoffs for the first time. Their regular-season record of 6-14 earned them the 12th and final playoff spot and landed them a quarterfinal match-up with the UBC Thunderbirds, who swept the best-of-three series with 74-61 and 76-55 wins two weekends ago. The T-birds were knocked out of playoffs last week when they lost 62-58 and 60-52 to the University of Alberta Pandas.
