Elizabeth Iseyemi is the "ticking heart" of the Axewomen

“I saw the places that it could take me, both on and off the court."

By Corey LeBlanc

The versatility of an aspiring pharmacist is a key ingredient in the prescription for success when it comes to the Acadia Axewomen basketball program.

“Lizzy does a little bit of everything for our team,” head coach Len Harvey says. The Acadia mentor is talking about Elizabeth Iseyemi—a 6’0” forward from Dartmouth, who is in her junior campaign with the Axewomen.

“She is like a Swiss army knife,” Harvey adds, in describing her versatility on the court. He notes that Iseyemi anchors Acadia’s defence and praises her ability to guard every position on the floor.

Offensively, Harvey points to her talent to score from the perimeter and “get to the rim.”

“Lizzy has always loved basketball—she is a gym rat,” he says.

The 22-year-old agrees, although her first athletic foray came in ballet as a four-year-old. She also spent time playing Timbits minor soccer and as a majorette.

Although she laced up her sneakers as part of a basketball team for the first time when she was seven, Iseyemi had been exposed to the sport as long as a she could remember, describing it as a “natural connection.”

“I was always itching to go on the court and take shots,” she remembers of her time at the gym watching Ishmeal and Kemuel (Kemi) her older brothers—take the floor.

By the time she reached junior high school, noting how she developed a “deeper understanding” of the sport, Iseyemi started to realize she may have a future in it.

“I saw the places that it could take me, both on and off the court,” she says, noting that her mother—Myra Beals—shared that idea, while encouraging her to work hard and improve.

In the following few years, Iseyemi represented Basketball Nova Scotia, played at the club and high school levels, including one year at her hometown Dartmouth High School. She spent her final season at St. Paul’s Academy in the United States.

When asked to talk about her strengths, she describes having a “feel for the game,” along with “energy” and communication skills. Iseyemi explains that she takes great pride in her defensive skills, including getting steals and “contesting shots.”

She also has a steely-eyed focus on “making my teammates better.”

“I am in love with passing,” Iseyemi notes, one of the ways in which she tries to achieve that goal.

With university—and varsity basketball—on the horizon, Iseyemi began drawing interest from schools in Canada and south of the border.

“I had to be honest with them,” she remembers of disclosing that she could have her first year delayed by knee surgery and rehabilitation.

Although they appreciated her candor, she notes that interest waned from some teams.

After narrowing her focus Canadian universities, Iseyemi decided that she wanted to remain close to home.

“But not too close,” she laughs.

While making the move to Wolfville and Acadia University, Iseyemi explains it not only provided ample distance away, but also the opportunity for family and friends to see her play with the Axewomen.

“I missed that a lot,” she notes of not seeing familiar faces in the stands when she played in the US.

Iseyemi remembers how impressed she was, from the beginning, with the coaches and players from the Axewomen program.

“There is such a tremendous competitive energy,” she says.

Along with athletics, Iseyemi—a chemistry major—describes Acadia as a “great fit” academically.

She fondly remembers the “focus on detail” she and two other student-athletes with the program experienced during their rehab stint.

“It was an amazing experience,” Iseyemi says.

During the recruiting process, Harvey remembers he and his coaches predicting a “high ceiling” considering her “willingness to work.”

Describing her as a “million-dollar package,” he agrees that Iseyemi is a consummate student-athlete, excelling both athletically and academically.

“Lizzy is just a wonderful young woman,” he says.

Earlier this season, the Axewomen experienced life without Iseyemi, who was recovering from a concussion. “We missed her presence,” Harvey says, not only during games, but also practices.

Along with missing her talent, Acadia experienced a leadership void.

Noting her “stoicism,” particularly in her early time with the program, Harvey explains that over time she has “found her voice.”

“Lizzy has come out of her shell,” Harvey says.

Iseyemi offers the word “interesting” when questioned about her evolution as a team leader.

“I try to speak respectfully to everyone,” she says, explaining that each of her teammates need to be treated differently. She adds that the team is “a lot more receptive to feedback” this season.

And, of course, she continues to tirelessly lead by example on the floor.

When it comes to the AUS season, the defending conference champion Axewomen are in third place with a 6-2 record.

“It was better than we expected,” Iseyemi offers, noting the challenges they have faced, including not only a highly competitive pre-season, but also being bitten by the injury bug.

With a healthy roster after the Christmas break, they expect to battle for a repeat, but she stresses the importance of “not looking too far ahead.”

“We want to be playing our best basketball in March,” Iseyemi says.

Reflecting on her experience since arriving in the Annapolis Valley, she describes herself as a “completely different player.”

Harvey describes her as the “ticking heart” of the program.

“I am lucky to be her coach.”