Being a successful student-athlete takes dedication, talent and perseverance. It\u2019s something Brock Badgers senior Jessica Morris \u2014 just like her shot from behind the arc \u2014 makes look easy.<\/p>\n
But while the Badgers women\u2019s basketball team has been piling up the awards during a wild season of playoff comebacks and Top 10 national rankings, the fourth-year forward from Guelph often goes about her work without much fanfare.<\/p>\n
All-star point guard Melissa Tatti calls Morris an unsung hero amongst all of the team\u2019s accomplishments.<\/p>\n
\u201cJess doesn\u2019t always get enough credit for what she does on the floor. She\u2019s a threat and without her I personally wouldn\u2019t be as successful and neither would the team,\u201d said Tatti, who was named OUA Player of the Year. \u201cShe\u2019s a gritty, tough player who does all the little things we need to be successful that don\u2019t always show on the stat sheet.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the regular season and OUA playoffs, Morris has been a consistent force in the Badgers\u2019 lineup by averaging 13.6 points per game and delivering momentum-changing threes to help the Badgers capture their first provincial title since 1983.<\/p>\n
Brock has, in head coach Mike Rao\u2019s words, designed a blueprint to create a balanced scoring attack this season.<\/p>\n
That blueprint was at work on the national stage during the Badgers\u2019 tournament-opening victory over the Calgary Dinos at the U SPORTS Women\u2019s Final 8 in Ottawa.<\/p>\n
As Brock\u2019s deep threat, Morris keeps the defence honest when she has the ball and opposing defences have struggled to guard the Badgers\u2019 fearsome starting lineup.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, the Dinos found out the hard way.<\/p>\n
Tatti scored 17 points, Samantha Keltos dropped 24 while Morris posted 20 while hitting five-of-seven shots from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey weren\u2019t respecting her shot in the first half yesterday leaving her open,\u201d said Tatti. \u201cOnce they had to start guarding her and respecting her shot, it opened things up for the rest of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris and Tatti are the only two graduating, senior players on the roster.<\/p>\n
\u201cJess is one of my favourite girls to have played with at Brock,\u201d said Tatti, a fifth-year guard. \u201cWe have a strong bond off the court, which really impacts our chemistry and play. She\u2019s one of my best friends and has been through the ups and downs with me, which makes this experience that much more special.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not uncommon to see Brock\u2019s offence deliver three-point plays. Tatti will drive the ball up the court and kick it over to Morris for an open three.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe like to call it \u2018The Granny Connection\u2019,\u201d added Tatti, in reference to the two elders of the team. \u201cShe\u2019s a really under-estimated player who is extremely tough on defence, has shut down some of the toughest players in the OUA, and hits game-time threes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris, and the entire women\u2019s basketball team, are role models when it comes to balancing academics and athletics, said Associate Director of Brock Sports, Emily Allan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese women are exemplary Badgers, demonstrating what it takes to be successful student athletes both on and off the court,\u201d said Allan. \u201cThey are demonstrating that it can be possible to balance all the demands at once. This group is on the court, in the gym, watching video, recovering, receiving athletic therapy treatment, all while balancing their academic workload, and it\u2019s something we take great pride in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris may be the true definition of a U SPORTS student-athlete. Not only is she a fundamental shooter on the court, but also demonstrates success in the classroom.<\/p>\n
The three-time Academic All-Canadian strives for success on and off the court, including a part-time job at Brock University\u2019s Central Equipment Room, also known as the Cage.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorking at the Cage is great because I\u2019m around other athletes and people with busy schedules, so it\u2019s nice to be able to relate to similar people,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Morris said there are some ingredients for juggling a successful, busy lifestyle.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all about staying organized,\u201d said Morris. \u201cI like being busy and having things to do, so I enjoy pre-planning out my days, but the most important thing is to set aside study time, and sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSleep is huge. I don\u2019t let up on that even though I\u2019m always studying. Sleep is important as a student-athlete, so it\u2019s crucial to balance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris is studying Therapeutic Recreation, which focuses on ensuring all individuals have access to meaningful leisure in their lives, most-notably people with disabilities, illnesses, recent immigrants or people who experience poverty, to increase their quality of life.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love my program so much,\u201d said Morris, who has her sights set on doing her master\u2019s in Occupational Therapy with the goal of becoming an occupational therapist one day. \u201cIf that doesn\u2019t work out then I\u2019d like to find a career in which I work with individuals with disabilities and illnesses, or any limitations, to help them live optimally and enhance their overall quality of life,\u201d said Morris.<\/p>\n
A native of \u2018The Royal City\u2019, Morris\u2019 parents and three siblings \u2014 Drew, Alison and Rebecca \u2014 are either attending or have graduated from the University of Guelph.<\/p>\n
Morris was a Gryphon for two years before coming to Brock.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m kind of the black sheep in the sense that I transferred,\u201d said Morris. \u201cBut my family still all comes to watch me play and wears Brock Badgers gear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris credits her parents Barb and Mike as having the biggest influence on her work ethic.<\/p>\n
\u201cI look up to both of them in many ways,\u201d she said. \u201cThe greatest lessons they have taught me are to work for the things you want, put 100 per cent effort into everything you do, and treat others the way you wish to be treated.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese lessons have helped me to find success in both academics and athletics, as well as in building strong relationships with others.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the court, Morris said she models her game after brother Drew, who played for the Guelph men\u2019s basketball team from 2009-12.<\/p>\n
She grew up traveling to all of his tournaments and began emulating his style once she started playing competitive basketball.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was inspiring to me, because although he was not the biggest, strongest or fastest guy on the court, he always gave 100 per cent effort and moved creatively and effectively to create opportunities for himself and his teammates,\u201d said Morris. \u201cHe was an unselfish player who was not afraid to sacrifice his body or get in on gritty plays.\u201d<\/p>\n
With a win in the quarter-final Thursday, Morris and the Badgers advanced to the U SPORTS Women\u2019s Final 8 semi-final versus the UPEI Panthers on Saturday, March 7 at 1 p.m. The winner of the game, being hosted at the TD Place Arena. The winner will advance to the gold medal game Sunday at 5 p.m. The losing team will play in the bronze medal game Sunday at noon.<\/p>\n
The games will be shown on television screens around Brock University and can be streamed live on CBCSports.ca<\/a><\/p>\n
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