Algoma U. basketball coach, a former player, to play in Portugal

Karissa Kajorinne, a former player with the Algoma University women's basketball team from 2012 to 2017 who now is an assistant coach with the team, is heading overseas to play.

The school announced this afternoon that Kajorinne is going to Portugal to play in the Liga Betclic Feminina with the Olivais Futebol Clube in Coimbra, Portugal.

"Having an opportunity to continue playing is something I have always dreamed of doing so I am very excited that I am able to pursue something that I am so passionate about," Kajorinne said in a prepared statement.

After her time at Algoma, Kajorinne returned to basketball for the 2018-19 Ontario University Athletics season at Lakehead University where she completed her Bachelor of Education.

Kajorinne, a two-time athlete of the year at the school, returned to Algoma to serve as an assistant coach and has also spent time in the Maritime Women's Basketball Association where she averaged 24.6 points-per-game last season.

"Karissa has been an amazing addition to our coaching staff over the last couple of years and has done a really great job of being a positive role model for our younger players, emulating what it takes to play at a high level," Algoma women's basketball coach Ryan Vetrie said. "As she makes her way overseas I believe she will continue to do so. It shows student-athletes that there are opportunities to play basketball after University. I am not surprised that Karissa got signed, as she still has that competitive drive to play the game."

The Liga Betclic Feminina season begins in October with Kajorinne set to travel to Portugal in late-August.