Courtesy Houston Baptist Women’s Basketball Website
HOUSTON – HBU women’s basketball has signed Felicity Hilford, a 5-6 point guard from Brighton, Victoria, Australia, to a National Letter of Intent, head coach Donna Finnie announced Wednesday.
“We are really happy that Felicity chose to be a Husky,” Finnie said. “She is tough and extremely passionate about this game, and those things, in addition to her high basketball IQ and tireless work ethic, will make her an instant contributor for us. She is also an excellent student and will fit in seamlessly to this group of players. Covid made it impossible for her to take her official visit, so we look forward to welcoming her to Houston next summer.”
“I am extremely excited to be a Husky and can’t wait to get to HBU next year,” said Hilford. “I’m looking forward to being on the basketball court competing with the team. I chose HBU because of the welcoming family environment, the great academics and the amazing women’s basketball program led by Coach Donna and her staff.”
Hilford played club basketball for the Dandenong Rangers and Sandringham Sabres for club coach Jacqui O’Neill. She was nominated MVP of the Youth League Championship Women (YLCW) and nominated to the All Star Five for Basketball Victoria YLCW competition in 2018. Hilford was MVP of the Grand Final Victorian Junior Basketball League in 2014 and 2017. She averaged 13 points, five rebounds, and two assists and was selected into the Basketball Victoria High Performance Program every year 2016-2019. Although she didn’t play high school ball, she was selected to the State Schools Victoria basketball where she represented Firbank where the team won a Silver medal at the National School Sports Championship of 2019.
“Felicity is a tireless worker – early mornings, hours in the gym and she works smart, trying to clean up deficiencies and make her strengths even stronger,” stated SBA Head Coach Simon Giovannoni from her Sabres club team. “She has a good IQ and as a point guard sees the floor and can get her teammates involved. She’s also a tough competitor – she pushes herself to be better and pushes her teammates by the work she does on the floor. She’s quick – her handle is solid under pressure and she’s spent a lot of time working on her shot to make it more efficient.”
Since coming so far away, Hilford felt HBU and the team were the perfect fit. She will feel more at home; however, joining a pair of fellow Australians in sophomore center Abbey Southerland and 2020 signee Annabel Deerbon. Hilford will be the eighth international player on the Huskies’ roster.
She will be joining the Huskies’ 2021-2022 season and plans to major in Cell and Molecular Biology.
