After announcing four local recruits last week, Bobcats women's basketball coach Novell Thomas has added a recruit from the United States in Cassie Cooke. Cooke, a Westminster, Maryland product, played one season in the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) in 2011-12 and was outstanding, being named a first team all-Canadian and AUS (Atlantic University Sport) Most Valuable Player as a member of the Cape Breton Capers. In her one season with Cape Breton, Cooke led the nation in total points with 471, averaging 23.6 points per game while starting 14 of the Capers 20 games.
“We are extremely excited that Cassie has signed with us. She gives us experience, scoring and many other intangibles,” says Novell Thomas, Bobcats women's basketball head coach.
"Over the last month, Cassie and I have had been in communication every day. We wanted to make sure that BU was a good fit for her. She's a competitor, who plays with passion. She recognizes the stiff competition in the CIS, and in particular Canada West, and wants to be a part of building our program."
Cassie will be entering her third year of eligibility after spending one season with the Capers and one season with Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
“I contacted Coach Thomas through a friend's advice and his persistence immediately caught my undivided attention,” says Cooke. “I plan on coming to Brandon with my CIS experience and also with the goal of completing my degree and growing as a player"
The graduate of Westminster's Winters Mill High School was a multi-sport stand-out where she recorded 1,082 points, 564 rebounds, 473 assists and 336 steals in basketball and was twice named Carroll County Girl's Soccer Player of the Year.
Cooke was the 2008 Carroll County Player of the Year in basketball and was named to the All-Carroll County in her final three years of high school, as well as being a member of the Baltimore Sun All-Met team in her junior and senior seasons.
Cooke plans to study sociology at Brandon University.