OSHAWA, Ont. - Durham College women's basketball is welcoming an experienced new face to its lineup. Tamiya Francis, a point guard from Scarborough., has officially signed with the Lords and is set to bring her energy and leadership to the court this season.
The addition of Francis gives Durham a proven competitor at the guard position, one who has already played at the collegiate level in the United States and knows what it takes to win.
Francis arrives at Durham after stints with Dawson Community College and Valdosta State University. During her time at Valdosta State, she helped the team capture a regional championship in 2021-22 and both the conference and regular season titles in 2023-24. Early in her collegiate career, she also set a school record with 11 steals in a single game at Dawson.
Her most memorable moment, she says, came when her team entered the regional tournament as the number seven seed and stunned the field. "We were ranked seventh in the region going into the regional tournament, which we took as disrespect," Francis said. "We came out and beat the number one seed in the championship. We earned the respect we deserved."
After several years in the U.S., Francis chose Durham College for a simple reason: proximity to family and friends. The move allows her to continue playing the game she loves while pursuing her academic goals. She's entering Durham's Dental Assisting program, without being far from her support system.
"Tamiya brings the kind of experience and competitiveness that will elevate everyone around her. She's played in winning programs, understands what it takes to compete every day and has a great feel for the point guard position," said Head Coach Warren Williams. "Beyond her talent, she's a leader who values her teammates and plays with tremendous pride. We're excited to welcome her to Durham and can't wait to see the impact she'll make both on and off the court."
Francis, who graduated from Hodan Nalayeh (formerly Vaughan Secondary School) in 2019, is expected to bring poise and experience to the backcourt. Her ability to control the tempo, create opportunities for teammates and apply relentless pressure on defence fits well with the team's identity.
As she begins her journey with the Lords, Francis is focused on contributing however she can and helping the program reach new heights.
The 2026-27 OCAA season begins in Kingston on Friday, October 23 at 6 p.m. as the Lords take on the St. Lawrence Surge. The home opener is scheduled for Friday, October 30 at 6 p.m. against the Georgian Grizzlies.
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