Bella Mesquita will join the UNBC Timberwolves basketball program for the 2020-21 season. Photo Courtesy, UNBC Timberwolves.

By Veronica Beltran

newest addition

Mesquita joins UNBC’s Basketball program for upcoming season

Apr 27, 2020 | 10:25 AM

PRINCE GEORGE—The UNBC Women’s Basketball program has announced the commitment of Bella Mesquita for the 2020-2021 West season.

“I have been working towards this. Strength training four or five times a week, and all the hard work is paying off. That is what is most rewarding, knowing I did it, like my coaches told me many times I could. I didn’t know if I could play at the U SPORTS level, so this is rewarding,”said Mesquita.

The five-foot-eleven, Calgary product visited the Prince George campus back in January, and met with coach Sergey Shchepotkin and the current Timberwolves roster.

However, due to an injury at the time, she was not able to train with the team.

For Mesquita, that trip was crucial in helping her make the decision to commit to the wolves.

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“Emma (vanBruinessen) took me for a tour, and she was saying hi to everyone. People were opening doors for me. Something that stood out was the community feel.”—Bella Mesquita

Mesquita trained with Genesis Basketball with coach Eddie Richardson, she is a former teammate of the Timberwolves’ freshman guard, Anastasia Soltes, who is also a product of the Genesis program.

Mesquita says she understands that the Canada West level is a major step up from the club level but is confident in her skills.’

“I think I am very versatile. I am almost six-feet-tall, so I can play inside if you need me to, but I can also knock down threes. I think I can be a threat on the court, for other teams to have to look for. The university game is faster, and more physical, but I am looking forward to that.”—Bella Mesquita

Coach Shchepotkin’s program has made the Canada West playoffs for four consecutive seasons, including playoff wins in the past two seasons.

“We are really looking forward to adding Bella to our program. She has the size to give smaller defenders trouble, and the range to give bigger defenders problems. Plus, she has a love for the game, and is a great passer at her position. I am looking forward to working with her and helping her grow into an impact player.”—Sergey Shchepotkin

Mesquita will graduate from St. Mary’s High School, where she played for the Saints.

That program played in the provincial tournament every year she was on the team.

At UNBC Mesquita plans on pursuing a Bachelor of Science, majoring in psychology and will join her new teammates in August.