Sitting at 5-5 and with a relatively favourable schedule still ahead, the Laurentian Voyageurs women's basketball team are very much looking to reward the L.U. faithful who remain constantly by their side with a home playoff encounter in February.
In tough in a East Division six team bracket that also features the Queen's Gaels (9-0), Carleton Ravens (7-1) and Ottawa Gee Gees (5-3), Laurentian is set to close out the first half of the season this weekend with road matchups against the Toronto Metropolitan Bold (8-0) and the University of Toronto Blues (3-6).
Blessed with an interesting blend of talent this year, head coach Jason Hurley boasts a variety of weapons at his disposal.
To be sure, the presence of returning all-star Emilie Lafond (15.0 points per game) on the inside accounted for a predictable contributor who could also be more of a facilitator as the overall skill-set grew around her.
An all-rookie team selection in 2024-2025, Timmins native Cadence Pecore (10.1 ppg) fully understood that year two would bring with it increased scrutiny - which is saying something given how much attention she would draw last year.
"Even though they say it's more physical and stuff like that, you kind of anticipate it, but I don't think you really understand until you play," said the 19 year-old graduate of Roland Michener Secondary School.
"Fifth years don't care if you're in your first year in this league. You're just another player out there."
With eight players now in the room who were not on the Voyageurs' roster last year, Pecore sounded far more comfortable easing her way into a leadership role that she will undoubtedly fully grasp in her senior years.
"I feel that I am a very big energy giver," said Pecore. "If they (new players) are having trouble understanding something on the floor, we will come off the floor, sit with them, go over the play and talk about what they are having a difficult time with."
"It's not always easy to learn on the fly."
Now in her fourth year at L.U., defensive stalwart Audrey-Anne Labrèche had much to learn when she arrived from Longueuil (PQ), with little to no awareness of the scope of the OUA (Ontario University Athletics).
"I knew about Ottawa and Carleton - but I didn't know about Windsor and Thunder Bay and places like that," said the 24 year-old who is studying Physical Education in french and plans to add on a year of Concurrent Education before returning to Montreal to teach.
One of just three players to start all ten outings for Laurentian this fall (along with Emilie Lafond and Alexia Schryburt), Labrèche has amassed 62 points to date, all while leading her team in steals and assists.
"I love playing defense," Labrèche beamed. "I love the rotations; I love the communication part of it. Even if you miss the rotation, you can give 100% effort and it still works. I love when we get the shot clock call (on the opposing offense)."
"I think our offense runs off our defensive energy."
With a realistic chance to hit the 10-win plateau for the first time since the 2009-2010 campaign, the Voyageurs will continue to lean on those mentioned above, along with Sudbury returnee Claudia Pellerin (17.6 ppg - double digits in all eight games she has played).
Helping out with secondary scoring are the likes of Alexia Scryburt (7.4), Jemaya Chinyelugo (7.3) and Audrey-Anne Labrèche as the OUA breaks for exams after this coming weekend, with Laurentian taking to the road to open 2026, travelling to St Catharines to face the Brock Badgers.
