Panthers’ top-ranked defence adds lockdown defender Deborah Aboagye
The UPEI Women’s Basketball Panthers have secured a commitment for the 2023–24 season from Deborah Aboagye, the reigning Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
Aboagye joins the UPEI Panthers after four years with the Bishop’s Gaiters, where she played a significant role as the team’s defensive anchor. The 23-year-old from Montréal, Québec is known for her suffocating on-ball defence and is often tasked with guarding the opponent’s best backcourt players.
In 49 games with the Gaiters, Aboagye averaged 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game. She also has some offensive upside, as she averaged 7.0 points per contest.
“My team had a lot of offensive firepower, so I tried to help as much as possible on the defensive end. Being the recipient of the RSEQ award was a humbling experience and a proud moment for me,” said Aboagye, who will be pursuing a Master of Business Administration in Global Leadership at UPEI. “I’d say my greatest strength is my versatility. I think I can help the Panthers by bringing that defensive intensity and making the right plays.”
Since accepting the position of head coach in 2018, Matt Gamblin’s teams have finished first in opponent points per game for four consecutive years and in opponent field goal percentage in three out of the four years. So, it’s understandable why he’s excited to add another experienced guard who excels on the defensive end.
“We’re thrilled to have Deborah join the green and white. She is a great defender who has played on a very good team at Bishop’s,” he said. “More importantly, she’s a high-character young woman who will add maturity and experience to our group.”
Having played in a conference championship game last season, Aboagye said she’s eager to compete for a title again and feels the Panthers have the talent and experience to make a run at it this year.
“I’m excited to join a team with championship aspirations because we had similar goals on the Gaiters, but ultimately missed our opportunity,” she said. “I’m looking forward to competing for a title with this group and can't wait to get started.”
