Highly-sought Brown sisters choose Acadia

BY JOHN DECOSTE

Kings County Register

Arguably the highest-regarded graduating female high school player in Nova Scotia is coming to Acadia this fall to play women's basketball for new Axewomen head coach Bev Greenlaw.

For good measure, her sister is coming, too.

Acadia Varsity Athletics announced July 4 both Keisha Brown and her elder sister, Alise, will attend Acadia this fall.

Keisha, a 2008 graduate of Citadel High in Halifax (which she helped lead to a provincial D-1 girls' championship), can begin play for the Axewomen this fall. Alise, transferring after four years at Saint Mary's to study toward a B.Ed. degree, is required to sit out the 2008/ 2009 season, but can begin playing for the Axewomen in the fall of 2009.

Keisha, the younger of the two sisters, led her team in scoring this past season, including a number of games in which she scored more than 30 points. She was also a valuable member of the Nova Scotia U-17 provincial team, coached by Greenlaw, which won the bronze medal at the 2007 national championships.

Alise was the AUBC scoring champion and a first-team all-conference player in 2007/ 2008, and is the conference career scoring leader among players with eligibility remaining. She also ranked among conference leaders in free throw shooting, three-point shooting and steals.

"I am delighted to have Keisha and Alise joining our program," Greenlaw says. "I truly enjoyed coaching Keisha last summer, and I am looking forward to helping her adjust to university life and a new level of basketball competition.

"I am also thrilled about having the opportunity to begin work with Alise toward the day, a year from now, when she will be able to join her sister as a vital member of the Axewomen program."

Alise says, "Keisha and I have always dreamed about playing together during my final year of eligibility - and everyone in Atlantic Canada knows Coach Greenlaw is an exceptional coach.

"He knows so much about the game, and all the girls that have played for him have nothing but praise.

Those factors, plus the high quality of the educational programs at Acadia, were the main reasons for the sisters’ choice, they say.