Get to know BLG nominee Paloma Anderson

by Monty Mosher

WOLFVILLE, N.S. - Paloma Anderson may not have a harsher critic than herself.

The basketball guard has squandered more chances than she can remember by putting herself first.

When she got the opportunity to join the Acadia Axewomen during the holiday break in the 2014-15 season, the resident of Phoenix, Ariz., was determined never to stumble over her own feet again.

"When I started playing basketball, I had a really huge ego for no reason," says Anderson. "I don't understand why I had it. My ego is what really destroyed opportunities. I just kind of put myself in front of the teams instead of trying to be a part of the team.

"I never knew how it was to be part of a team until I came to Acadia."

The 21-year-old Anderson has capped her first full season with the Axewomen as Atlantic University Sport's female nominee for the BLG Awards. The awards are presented each year to the most outstanding student-athletes in the country.

She helped Acadia advance from a 4-16 team in her first season to a 16-4 in her second year. The team started the season 15-0 for the first time.

Considered by many to be too small at five-foot-one to be a top varsity player, she piled up personal accolades. She became Acadia's first conference most valuable in women's basketball, won a spot on the all-Canadian first team and broke Acadia's single-game scoring record with 41 points. The Axewomen were eliminated in the conference semifinals.

She scored 18.7 points per game, ranking her second in the nation. She placed fourth in steals and ninth in assists.

Acadia athletic director Kevin Dickie had a heart-to-heart discussion with Anderson after coach Bev Greenlaw retired following the 2014-15 season and was replaced by Len Harvey. Greenlaw had recruited Anderson from a junior college in Iowa, where Anderson had hit on hard times.

Anderson had considered leaving Acadia rather than face up to a coaching change, but Dickie told her that great things could await if she stuck it out.

"A strong-willed person, Paloma's deep personal goals were reflected in her leadership and her overall performance this season," Dickie says. "The last one to leave the court after practice and the first on the court prior to practice, Paloma has helped establish a new work ethic on her team that paid dividends this season.

"Arriving on campus last January as an inner-city athlete from Phoenix, Paloma has exceeded our expectations as a person and athlete. She has embraced the local and student community and has become a fan favourite with her tireless effort on and off the court."

Harvey and Anderson have built a strong bond in their time together. He says they shared a great drive to Fredericton for the all-Canadian announcements.

"She has faced a lot of adversity while growing up, whether it was her circumstances at home, or problems she admittedly created on her own, Paloma has grown out of a tough situation through plenty of adversity to become the person and athlete she is today.

"Still growing and learning, Paloma has endeared herself to the local community here and is becoming a mature, dependable person. With her electric personality and infectious smile, she has become a role model to youth in the area, and is idolized by the young basketball players that come to watch our team play. Ultimately, Paloma's move to Canada has allowed her to blossom into a more mature young woman, and also let her move forward to a more positive and progressive time in her life."

Axewomen teammate Chanel Smith says Anderson has an energy that permeates the team.

"One thing I really enjoy about Paloma is how outgoing and loving she is, Smith says. "She looks past any external attributes about people and willingly makes friends with anyone she meets. She is genuinely interested in them as people as well. Finally, Paloma is passionate. This passion I believe is what compels her to constantly work to improve her game and help us win. I've enjoyed having Paloma as my teammate and am looking forward to the next two seasons with her."

Anderson had a friend who played at the University of Saskatchewan and became curious about the CIS brand. She liked the idea of having five years of eligibility, giving her two more with the Axewomen.

She says something amazing happened when she got to Acadia. The team was winless when she arrived.

"Honestly, I didn't feel like there was an adjustment," she says. "I've played for a lot of teams and I've had my share of being immature on teams, being kicked off. But for some reason when I came to Acadia, and I threw on the jersey and it said Acadia across my chest, it just felt right. I don't know. I can't explain the feeling.

"When I started playing with these girls, I just realized their potential and ability didn't match the record. Their ability doesn't match what people were saying about them."

Wolfville was an adjustment, for sure. Anderson has family ties in Arizona and New York and her piercings and tattoos are part of who she is.

"I got a lot of stares, but that was just in the first weeks after I arrived. It's just really homey here. No one judges me. If I go out in the town I say hello to everybody. People are extremely friendly and they make you feel welcome. They don't make you feel like an outsider. I really appreciate that.

"I feel like I've been here for 18 years. It's a feeling I've never had before. Wolfville is home. I don't play to go anywhere. I plan on finishing out and being an alumna at Acadia."

She'll never forget the moment she was called in to be told of her BLG award nomination. "When they pulled me in to tell me at first I thought I was getting in trouble. It is extremely humbling. I'm so grateful and thankful to represent Acadia, especially at something that huge."