Black Is Back
(FREDERICTON, NB) Bailey Black is back.
The veteran guard has returned to the UNB REDS women’s basketball team for a fifth season of U SPORTS eligibility in 2021-22.
“After not having much of a season in my fourth year, I thought it would be a great opportunity to finish with as normal a season as possible,” said Black. “I’m excited to spend another season with a great group of girls and coaches. Basketball and being part of a team has always been a huge part of my life and I wasn’t ready to let that go.”
Black, and forward Krystal Osburn, graduated last spring, after a very different 2020-21 season.
Limited by the pandemic, the REDS, like other teams, could only train.
In March, they were able to engage in some scrimmages, but there was no real competition.
“At the end of last season, I’d accepted the fact that I wouldn’t finish with a normal season,” she said. “Even if it had been normal, I definitely would’ve come back because I was excited to be accepted to the Education program and for the chance to play another year.”
After graduating with a Kinesiology degree, Black is now enrolled in UNB’s Bachelor of Education program.
And, once again, she’ll be a leader on a young REDS team.
“Being a fifth-year player does come with a lot of responsibility, on and off the court,” said Black. “We have a strong group of leaders and we’re always leaning on each other and helping bring the most out of ourselves and our teammates. As a team, we’re taking pride in our commitment and accountability this season, and I think that gives us the ability to accomplish some great things this season.”
“We’re pumped that Bailey is back,” said REDS head coach Jeff Speedy. “She’s a special person, player and leader. We’re so much better, in so many ways, with her on our roster.”
Limited in her playing time by a knee injury during her first season, Black has played just 39 games in a UNB uniform.
Speedy says Black’s career stats don’t tell the real story.
“You hear the term ‘win-win’ a lot in the sports world. Well, this is a ‘win-win-win,’ he said. “We get a great player and leader back, she gets the opportunity to play again after lots of bad luck in her first four years, and after she completes her Education degree in June, there will be a long list of students who will be very lucky to have Bailey as their teacher. She’s going to be a great one.”
Black and the REDS open the 2021-2022 Atlantic University Sport season on home court, against the St FX X-Women.
UNB hosts X in a pair of weekend games, on Friday, October 29th and Saturday, October 30th. Both games tip-off at 6:00pm.
“We always want to win an AUS title and get to compete at a U SPORTS tournament, but I believe there are some short-term goals that need to be accomplished in order for us to get there,” said Black. “I think we have a really special group that has already built strong relationships, which is key to having success on the court. We had a major development year last year, during Covid, and it’s clear already that that development has translated well into this season. We need to focus on one weekend at a time.”
Black describes her tenure as a RED as a physical and emotional rollercoaster, but says she’s thankful for the student-athlete experience.
Despite the ups and downs, she’s proud to wear the REDS jersey.
“I remember the first time I got to put on my jersey, in my first year, at the Helen Campbell Tournament,” she recalled. “I remember looking down at it and thinking about the hard work it took to get here and all the support I had from my family growing up. It’s hard to believe that this weekend, I’ll be putting my jersey on for the last ‘first’ time.”