Basketball has taken Saicha (pronounced SAY-shuh) Grant-Allen all over the world. Her latest travels with the Canadian National Basketball Team brought her to Taipei, Taiwan, in August 2014 for the 36th Annual William Jones Cup.

The 6-foot-5 sophomore post player on the University of Dayton women's basketball team noted that the competitiveness of the games was life changing as an athlete.  

"It was highly competitive. We were not just playing a game; we were representing our native land," said Grant-Allen. "Girls clawed, dove all over the place and just really gave every single thing they had each game."

As a result of the intensity, Grant-Allen not only led her team to winning the Williams Jones Cup, but also learned qualities of leadership, work ethic and determination.
 
Over five rounds of basketball, Grant-Allen averaged 8.5 points while shooting an impressive 66.7 percent from the field. She also snagged 4.3 rebounds per game. In round two, in a 79-58 win against Japan Denso Iris, Grant-Allen scored 12 points and pulled down 4 rebounds. In the final round of the tournament, Grant-Allen helped her team defeat Savage USA 80-56 by scoring 7 points and grabbing 7 rebounds.

For Grant-Allen, not a day went by without her feeling a great deal of "honor, pride and joy."

She has been a part of Canada's national program since 2011. She was on the U16 Canadian National Team that finished in third place at the 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Women in Merida, Mexico.

She was also part of the 2012 Canadian Women's National Team that competed at the FIBA U17 World Championship for Women in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She participated at the 2012 3x3 Youth World Championships (Team Canada finished 2-3) held in Spain.
She competed at the 2013 FIBA World Championship for Women in Lithuania with the U19 Canadian Junior National Team.

"There are so many beautiful places in the world, and I really soak in everything. I am overwhelmed by a sense of gratitude. How can you not find joy in playing the game you love, with people you love, for the country you love? I am just so blessed to have all these experiences and wouldn't trade it for anything," said Grant-Allen.

Written by Amber Deane, junior on the UD women's basketball team