SARNIA – The future gets brighter with each passing day.
Wing Lauren Smith has officially announced her commitment to Head Coach Janine Day and the Lambton Women’s Basketball Program for the 2024-25 season, and beyond.
Smith is the third commitment in a talented recruiting class for Day and the rest of her coaching staff. Come September, Smith will join Madison Fink (Blenheim, Ont.) and Gianna Therrien (Timmins, Ont.) as a newcomer in a Lambton uniform for the defending OCAA Gold Medalists.
“I’m excited to play basketball and be in the Nursing Program at Lambton College,” said Smith. “I was a little nervous for today, but I’m just really looking forward to it all.”
“I’m just excited to join the team. All the coaches really welcomed me here, and I felt like I’m going to get the most out of playing here. I’m going to develop as a player and make new bonds and new friends with my teammates.”
Smith, a five-foot-ten wing, comes to Lambton College from St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic Secondary School where she played for the Braves Senior Girls team during the Fall term. Smith and the Braves posted an 8-6 record in the regular season to finish in fourth place.
Outside of high school, Smith plays for the Niagara JUEL program under Head Coach Si Khounviseth. Smith plays in the same JUEL loop as one of her new teammates and fellow recruits, as Madison Fink currently plays for Windsor St. Clair.
Coach Day is excited to add a player of Lauren's caliber to the roster.
"Lauren is an extremely hard worker who will add depth to our wing position," said Day. "We are excited to watch her growth as a player over the next four years."
"She is a versatile player who can defend in the post and also be an offensive threat on the perimeter. She has a very high basketball IQ, which will be a major asset for us."
Academically, Smith will be enrolled in the four-year Honours Bachelor of Science – Nursing Program at Lambton College.
“Another thing that drew me to Lambton College was the Nursing Program,” added Smith. “I found all of the labs for the program really interesting, and I’m looking forward to the opportunities within the program.”
The Women’s Basketball Team is coming off a historic season for the program. Day and the Lions won the team’s first-ever West Division regular season title, and they translated that into postseason success as they won their first OCAA Championship on their home court. From there, they went onto compete at the 2024 CCAA Women’s Basketball National Championships in Lloydminster, Alberta, where they brought home a CCAA Silver Medal.
Heading into the 2024-25 season, they have their sights set on doing it all again. With several key contributors from last year’s team having graduated, Day and the coaching staff set out on the recruiting trail to address those gaps on the roster. The addition of Smith to the rotation brings another offensive weapon to the group. Smith’s versatility and ability to play multiple positions will give the coaching staff the opportunity to get creative with some of their sets.
Welcome to The Den, Lauren!
For more information, or for any media inquiries within Lambton College Athletics, please contact:
Tyler Bennett
Lambton College Sports Information & Marketing Coordinator
tyler.bennett@lambtoncollege.ca