It’s getting to be a habit—a Lancer women’s basketball player was named defensive player of the year by Canadian Interuniversity Sport during its award gala Wednesday in Quebec City.

Korissa Williams kept the defensive MVP trophy in the Lancer family for the fourth straight year, after finishing the season with 64 steals, the country’s second-best, and anchoring a team defence that held opponents to an average of 53.2 points per game.

Former teammate Miah Marie Langlois had been awarded the honour each of the past three campaigns.

“I am so proud of Korissa following in her ‘big sister’ Miah’s footsteps,” said head coach Chantal Vallée, back-to-back winner of the Peter Ennis Award as coach of the year. “There’s no doubt that Korissa has helped our team at both ends of the floor and to see her earn a CIS major award for her defensive work is outstanding.”

In addition to her defensive contributions, Williams averaged a team-best 19.3 points per contest—good for third in CIS—and led the Lancers in assists per game (4.7) en route to her selection as a first-team all-Canadian.

UWindsor athletic director Mike Havey congratulated Vallée on her second consecutive selection as the CIS coach of the year.

“Chantal’s record of accomplishment and incredible team achievement are certainly worthy of this recognition,” he said. “Her program has been a source of great pride and inspiration for our University.”

Read "Williams, Vallee claim CIS major awards" at goLancers.ca.

As the national tournament opens today, the top-seeded Lancers hope to become the second program in CIS history to win five straight Bronze Baby trophies, equalling the feat accomplished by Laurentian from 1975 to 1979.