Much has changed for Huskies’ Humbert
She’s playing a prominent role this year
Back when her team was pursuing the Bronze Baby in 2011, Riley Humbert was just a bench baby.
Now finishing off her fourth year as a Huskie, Humbert plays a prominent role for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, who are back in Windsor, Ont., this week for the CIS Final 8 national women’s basketball championship.
“(In 2011), I didn’t play at all,” recalls Humbert, who was a rookie the last time the national championship was staged in Windsor where the Huskies won silver, “so this will definitely be a different experience.”
Humbert also got to experience nationals at Calgary in 2012. Nearly half her team has been to the Final 8 tournament.
What can they draw from that?
“You definitely have to be the most prepared team,” offers the 5-foot-5 guard Humbert. “The coaching staff is good at getting us to watch film and scout the other players and be prepared for the other teams and just bringing a lot of energy to each game will be a difference.”
Humbert is averaging 6.5 points per game this season. She has 55 assists, 17 steals and 55 rebounds.
Back when she was a rookie, she averaged just 5.8 minutes a game, along with 0.8 points and 0.5 rebounds per game.
She’s come a long way to get back to where the Huskies reached the national final in 2011.
The return trip begins with a return engagement with the Queen’s Golden Gaels, whom the Huskies trounced 68-33 at the Ryerson Invitational in pre-season.
“So we will probably be drawing from that as well,” says Humbert, “but it will be a different game than preseason.”
She’s excited to get back to the national stage in this, her third time around, she says.
“Every year is a new opportunity. We have something to prove and we’re excited to play.”
They key? To continue what they’ve been doing throughout the Canada West playoffs.
“It’s a team game and everybody has been stepping up and contributing and bringing lots of energy,” Humbert says.
“If we do that again, we’ll be successful.”