PEI basketball star suiting up for UPEI next fall

The UPEI women's basketball team is excited that six-foot PEI high school basketball standout Jessica Patenaude will be joining the Panthers next fall. Patenaude is an all-round athlete, excelling at basketball, volleyball, badminton, and track and field.

For the past two years, Patenaude has been a league all-star in both volleyball and basketball. She represented PEI on the under-17 provincial basketball team this summer, where she was among the top three players in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots.

Patenaude who will finish her high school career with the Charlottetown Rural High School Raiders commented on joining the Green & White next fall. 'I'm excited to be a part of a university team where I can push new boundaries and develop as a varsity level athlete. I grew up watching the UPEI Panthers and now, getting to be a part of its program is surreal.'

'We're thrilled to have Jessica join our program,' said UPEI Head Coach Greg Gould. 'She's a great athlete, an exceptionally hard worker, and a tenacious rebounder who can run the court. I believe Jessica will have an immediate impact on our team.'

Patenaude is also a star in the classroom; the honours student is an avid reader and fiction writer. She plans to put these talents to good use as she pursues an English degree.