Pittsburgh, Pa. – Four former Duquesne women's basketball players enjoyed prolific seasons this past year for their respective clubs overseas while one is returning to the hardwood. Paige Cannon, Jose-Anna Johnson, Nina Aho, and Fatou Pouye all registered productive campaigns while Kandri-Ann Lass has returned to pro basketball.

Paige Cannon (2014-2019)
Cannon (2014-2019), a native of Johnstown, Ohio, helped the Starlites GIG of the Maltese Women's League to a 12-4 record and earned herself a trio of major awards. She earned 2024 Maltese League Player of the Year, Forward of the Year, and Import of the Year while also being named to the 2024 All-Maltese First Team. She averaged 18.2 points and 11.9 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 61.7 percent from the floor. Cannon led the league in rebounding, ranked second in scoring, and fifth in assists per game. She registered nine double-doubles on the season while netting double figures in 14 of 16 contests. Cannon began the season with a stretch of 13 consecutive games where she recorded double digit scoring. The Ohio native was consistent from the charity strip as she successfully converted 88.6 percent from the line. She posted back-to-back 30-point games, netting a season-high 31 points against Luxol, on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor and a perfect 15-for-15 from the chalk.

"Paige was voted Most Valuable Player in Malta this past season and it was well deserved," head coach Dan Burt explained. "Scoring in double figures 14 out of 16 games, including multiple 30+ outbursts, Paige dominated Maltese Pro Basketball. This next season, Paige is taking a step forward in her career and going to Uruguay."

Jose-Ann Johnson (2011-2015)
Averaging a double-double per contest, Johnson helped Arms Depiro Rabat Imtarfa to a 14-6 record while earning herself 2024 Maltese League Center of the Year and a spot on the First Team ballot. She averaged 13.8 points per game which sat fifth in the league while her 10.5 rebounds per contest sat third. Her 1.2 blocks ranked second as she totaled 1.6 steals for her squad. Johnson posted eight double-doubles on the year while scoring in double digits 14 times. She registered a stretch of 10 straight games in double figures while producing four 20-point performances. The native from Brampton, Ontario, carded a season-high 28 points and 15 rebounds in a victory over Hibernians. She finished 10-of-21 from the field while tallying three blocked shots and one steal.

"Jose Ann averaged 13.8ppg, 10.5rpg, and 1.2 block per game while being named the Center of the year for Maltese Basketball," Burt said. "She is a long-time veteran of the European professional ranks and it's great to see her continued success."

Nina Aho (2016-2020)
Posting a team-high 17 points, Aho led the DVTK-Hun-Therm Miskolc in capturing the Hungary Division A Championship with a 66-56 victory over UNI Gyro. She finished 3-of-5 from long range while going 4-of-5 from the charity stripe. Aho totaled five rebounds and three assists while tying her season-best with five steals during the victory. A native from Budapest, Hungary, Aho averaged 8.8 points, 3.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game for Miskolc. She registered 12 games in double figures while posting 10 games with two-plus steals and 14 contests with three-plus assists. Aho played for Hungary in the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where she saw action against Canada, Japan, and Spain. In a 73-72 victory over Spain, she recorded seven points, two steals, and two assists.

"Coach RJ Bell and I just spent a week at the FIBA u16's in Miskolc, Hungary where Nina led DVTK to the Hungarian Domestic League Championship," continued Burt. "Nina's leadership and popularity was evident from the first moment we were in the stands together. She is a rock star in Hungary with billboards, numerous endorsements deals and autograph signings all over the region."

Fatou Pouye (2021-2022)
Pouye, a native of Kaolack, Senegal, helped Club Joventut Badalona in winning the Spain-LF Challenge title and therefore earned LF Endesa promotion. She registered nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from the floor while collecting three rebounds off the bench in the win. Fatou scored in double figures eight times while collecting five-plus rebounds in seven contests. She posted a season-high 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the floor in handing Leganes its first loss of the season, with a 79-53 victory. Pouye also played for the Senegal team, where she saw action against Nigeria, Belgium, and USA in the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

"Fatou is arguably playing in the toughest domestic league in the world" Burt explained. "She had a good season and finished strong at the end. Fatou also played on the Senegalese National Team in the Olympic trials averaging more than 16 minutes a game in competition against medalists Belgium and the United States."

Kadri-Ann Lass (2015-2019)
After a year away from the game, Lass (2015-2019) returns to the hardwood after signing with BC NOKIA, who are based in Nokia, Finland. Lass most recently played at IDK Euskotren in Spanish LF Endesa. In 12 contests she averaged 5.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game during the 2022-23 campaign. She also played six games in the EuroCup where she recorded 5.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in 2022-23. Lass joins BC NOKIA, who posted a 20-2 record in the regular season last year where it took first in Group B and beat Turun NMKY in the finals. She brings a lot of experience to the squad as she has played professionally in Hungary (UNI Gyor), Latvia, and Poland (Wisla Krakow).

"Excited for Kandri returning to pro basketball after a year sabbatical. She has signed with BC Nokia in Finland," Burt said.

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