McCarter has had a huge impact at Nipissing

Megan McCarter’s remarkable career as a basketball player with the Nipissing University women’s basketball team is coming to an end.

The team has nine regular season games left, as the Lakers (4-9) fight for a playoff spot. Their last regular season game is a home contest scheduled for February 14 against Lakehead University. It will be senior night, as McCarter, and the other Nipissing seniors, will be recognized for their contributions to the Nipissing women’s basketball program.

McCarter’s impact on the Nipissing program has been massive. Whether it’s on-the-court, off-the-court and in a leadership role, McCarter made the most of her time in North Bay.

Offence

McCarter will leave North Bay as the program’s leading scorer. She set the Nipissing all-time scoring record last year and recently passed the 1,000 point plateau. Her name is at the top, or near the top of just about every statistical career category in the program’s history. rebounds, free throws, assists, steals, games started, and minutes played as a Laker.

Defence

However, looking beyond the stats, it’s the things that don’t show up on the stat sheet where McCarter has had her biggest impact, said Lakers’ coach Rachel Van Woezik, noting the huge defensive impact she has on the game.

“Game after game, she guards the opposition’s best player, and her ability to shut down anyone—from point guards to centers—has been invaluable to us,” Van Woezik said.

“Her defensive versatility, combined with her length, athleticism, and basketball IQ, will undoubtedly make her a force at the professional level.”

Leadership

This year McCarter is in the top ten in the Ontario Universities Association (OUA) for minutes played, rebounds, free throws and in the top 20 for points and assists. However, beyond the stat sheet and off the floor, McCarter’s leadership and community involvement have had a huge impact on the Nipissing women’s basketball program.

Van Woezik said there’s no doubt McCarter is destined for great things, whether it’s in professional basketball overseas or her future teaching career. She credits McCarter for her leadership. Which is something McCarter doesn’t give herself enough credit for the way she has grown into this role, Van Woezik said.

She said when joined the Lakers as head coach a few years ago, the program was in transition. The team was losing key players, and there wasn’t a strong sense of identity or veteran leadership at the time.

“Megan stepped into that void without a roadmap or a mentor to guide her. Through trial and error, lots of reflective conversations, and her commitment to growth, she became the leader we needed,” Van Woezik said.

Enrolled in the physical and health education concurrent education program at Nipissing, McCarter’s leadership style is rooted in her values, Van Woezik said, adding she has a unique ability to balance intensity with humor, knowing exactly when to inject some levity to lift the team.

“She’s steady, reliable, and unwavering in her commitment to making everyone around her better. As a young coach, it’s been a privilege to have a ‘teammate’ in Megan.”

Community

Off the court, Megan has been just as impactful in the North Bay community, as she is a role model to young female athletes and takes that responsibility seriously.

“She’s a local celebrity at games, always willing to chat or sign autographs for kids. She’s also been instrumental in planning and running our summer camps, school visits, youth clinics, charity fundraisers, and our All-Star Academy for young girls,” Van Woezik said.

“There’s no doubt she’s sparked a love for basketball in many young athletes here.”

When McCarter steps off the floor and wears the Lakers jersey for the last time, Van Woezik says she won’t have a lot to say to McCarter—not because she won’t have anything to share, but because she has made it a priority to tell her these things throughout the season.

“I wanted her to play her final year knowing how deeply she’s impacted this program and the people in it. We’ve had many conversations about her legacy, and I hope she feels the weight of her contributions as she closes out her career,” Van Woezik said.

Looking to next season, the Lakers will be set up for success due to McCarter’s contributions, Van Woezik said.

“Our ultimate goal is to win a national championship someday, and when that happens, I hope she knows it belongs to her too.”