HOUSTON, Texas – Houston Baptist University women's basketball head coach, Donna Finnie, has announced the hiring of former Lady Monarch player, Becca Allison, as an assistant coach. Along with Allison’s coaching duties, she will be pursuing her Masters in Education at HBU.
After seventeen years as a member of the NAIA, the Huskies began play as an NCAA Division I team again in 2007 and became a full member of the NCAA for the 2011-12 academic year. The HBU women’s basketball team spent four years in the Great West Conference before joining the Southland Conference last year.
"I am really excited to be joining the HBU family and Coach Finnie's staff," said Allison. "Having been coached by Donna at the European Championships, I know how passionate she is about the game of basketball and I can't wait to help her and the team achieve great success in the Southland Conference."
Allison, who was a senior co-captain for the Lady Monarchs just last season, appeared in all 34 games while starting 12 of those contests. For the 2013-14 season, Becca led the squad in free throw shooting percentage (.764), making 81 of 106 attempts, while also racking up 53 assists and 34 steals. She scored a career high of 17 points against UMass Lowell and dished out a career high six assists in a conference game against LA Tech.
Becca finished her career at Old Dominion with: 513 points, 210 rebounds, 138 assists and 66 steals. She appeared in a total of 120 games throughout her tenure in Norfolk, playing in 28 games even as a freshman and sophomore.
"It has been fantastic seeing her grow so much at Old Dominion and mature into such a positive and inspiring young woman,” said Finnie. “Wendy Larry and Karen Barefoot both had huge influences on Becca and her time there has prepared her very well for her initiation into the coaching world. Her playing experience at ODU, European Championships and the World University Games will be so valuable as she works with our guards on the floor.”
The Edinburgh-native went well above and beyond what was asked from her in regards to giving back to the community, as she garnered the Conference USA Spirit of Service Award this year, which is designed to recognize the community service efforts of the league's student-athletes, based upon significant community service, good academic standing and participation in their elected sport.
Allison possessed a GPA of 3.0 or higher in six of her semesters at ODU and also was a Dean's List recipient while earning her degree in sports management with a marketing minor.
"I am excited for what Becca will bring to our recruiting efforts, as she has a contagious personality that recruits will connect with immediately," Finnie continued. "She also will spearhead our community outreach programs, which she has demonstrated is a passion and strength of hers. She was very active at Old Dominion in the community and athletics department, so I am excited about the energy she will bring to our program."