Great Defender: Saskatchewan Huskies count on Andrea Dodig for D

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Nobody defends like Andrea Dodig on the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s basketball squad.

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That’s her role. That’s her specialty. That’s her niche.

“Big-time,” says Huskies head coach Lisa Thomaidis, whose team hosts Canada West conference quarter-final action Saturday night (7 p.m.) at the Physical Activity Complex on the U of S campus.

“She’s the cornerstone of our defence. She’s one of the best on-ball defenders I’ve ever coached. She’s got that combination of toughness and size and strength and foot speed. And she just knows basketball. She’s not afraid to get in there.”

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Dodig has had time, too, to develop her defensive prowess at the U Sport level.

After all, she has been with the Huskies since the fall of 2019. Among active players, she’s the last remaining holdover from the 2020 U Sports national championship and Bronze Baby-winning squad. She endured the COVID-19 pandemic pause — all practice and nothing more — and later recovered from a serious knee injury that saw her miss yet another season.

Now she’s into her final stretch as the Huskies begin defence of their Canada West conference when they host the Trinity Western University Spartans on Saturday night.

“My fifth-year speech was about her in her first year, running through that back wall and breaking her wrist because she just never gives up on a play,” points out Thomaidis, whose team is looking to defend its Canada West title

“She’s had a great year. The assist/turnover ratio has improved. The steals. She’s our leading defensive rebounder as a guard; always gets the other team’s best player as an assignment.”

Dodig ranks second only to teammate Gage Grassick in steals with 46, assists (54) and defensive rebounds (72), while committing only 23 turnovers this season.

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“I feel like I’ve always taken pride in my defence,” says Dodig. “It’s always been something that, at the end of the day, if shots aren’t falling or anything, defence is always going to be there. Gotta to put work in the defensive end.

“It’s always something, growing up, that I’ve always put extra effort into because defence ultimately wins games and championships.”

She missed the entire 2022-23 season due to an ACL injury. She returned last season into a deep line-up with spots already taken or spoken for.

“It takes a lot of mental toughness and courage,” Thomaidis says of Dodig’s display of perseverance.

A week ago, as she headed into final weekend of regular season play, Dodig was asked what was going through her mind during the final stretch of her U Sports career.

“A lot of emotions after having my senior night (two weekends ago),” she said at the time. “There’s still lots of games left to play. I’m super excited, and just want to continue on because I know our journey with this team is not going to be ending and we’re going to last as long as we can.”

During senior night, she was joined by her mom Dawn, dad Mike and aunt Mira.

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Dodig has spent six years in total at the U of S, using up four years of eligibility during that span.

“Going through COVID and my injuries definitely opened my eyes to different perspectives,” she says, “and having to deal with a little bit of adversity and being able to expand and grow as a player but also as an individual, on and off the court. These challenges … it was really hard at the moment but, at the end, it was all worth it —all paved the way to where I am today.”

MOVED OUT WEST FROM ONTARIO

Dodig, who hails from Bolton, Ont., played at the Caledon Basketball Academy and won an under-17 national championship on Team Ontario.

Her oldest sister Mikaela played basketball at the University of New Brunswick and another sister, Jessica, played soccer at Bishop’s University.

“It was a little bit of a tough decision (to come out West), but both of my sisters also played at universities and both of them went out of province, so it wasn’t out of the norm for anyone out of my family,” explains Dodig, an engineering student and four-time U Sports Academic All-Canadian.

Over time, her role has evolved.

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“Throughout my time, I’ve had great leaders,” points out Dodig. “Being able to look up to them, and being able to now put my leadership out there for my teammates and learning from past leaders. On that championship team, Meghan Ahlstrom and Sabine Dukate were great leaders and I want to replicate that to my teammates as well. And I think being here for that long, I definitely have grown with my coaching staff as a leader. I know they have full faith and trust in me as well, which helps.”

In turn, Dodig helps the Huskie cause as the Dogs seek yet another Canada West title and potential national crown.

She’s “very important” heading into playoffs,” admits Thomaidis.

“Veteran player who’s been around. She can come up with big plays when the game’s on the line. The defence, you can’t replace it. She has to be on the floor for us, defending the best player — the best ball-handler, anyway — and she makes life difficult for other teams’ key players. She’s critical for us.”

Just call her The Great Defender.

dzary@postmedia.com

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