| (1) | Toronto | 81 | ||||||
| (8) | Dalhousie | 63 | Toronto | 84 | ||||
| (4) | Lethbridge | 66 | Lethbridge | 78 | Toronto | 68 | ||
| (5) | McGill | 61 | ||||||
| —–TORONTO | ||||||||
| (6) | Lakehead | 67 | ||||||
| (3) | Laurentian | 66 | Lakehead | 66 | Victoria | 63 | ||
| (2) | Victoria | 60 | Victoria | 81 | ||||
| (7) | Winnipeg | 53 |
In the quarterfinals, top-seeded Toronto, which entered the tourney (24-0), bounced 8th-seeded Dalhousie 81-63. The Tigers had finished third in the AUAA but had knocked off PEI and New Brunswick to win the Atlantic title. The Tigers had lost four of their first five AUAA games but ran off 11 straight before entering the national tourney. Toronto took a 31-21 lead the break. Head coach Michelle Belanger called her Blues “a veteran team, with an even attack and lots of versatility. But in the first half, we played like we just came back from a funeral home.” Angela Orton paced the Blues with 24. Lisa Briggs led Dalhousie with 25.
The 2nd-seeded Victoria Vikings defeated the 7th-seeded Winnipeg Wesmenettes 60-53 in what coach Kathy Shields called “as tough an opening game as we’ve ever played.” Shields called Winnipeg’s Cathy Holtman and Beth Cochran, “two of the best big players in the country.” Victoria was ahead 28-26 at the half. The game was tied at 42 with less than 10 to play before Victoria’s experience took over. Winnipeg coach Tom Kendall later noted that his team “kept their poise. I thought they did really well. I’m proud of them.” Lori Clarke paced the Vikings with 14. Janet Fowler added 13, Susie Neill 13, Karla Karch 7, Rini Sladecek 6, Sandy Pothier 5 and Tessa Valg 2, while Sandi Begg, Adele Fedorak, Joanne Nutini and Liz Sara were scoreless. Beth Cochran led the Wesmenettes with 20. Cathy Holtman added 14, Lori Reed 8, Marla Hildebrand 5, Sindy Janzen 3 and Lisa Mandziak 2, while Deb Belinsky and Arlene Petkew were scoreless.
The 6th-seeded Lakehead Nor’westers knocked off 3rd-seeded Laurentian 67-63 as 6-0 centre Lynne Brown scored 20. Four Lakehead players scored in double figures. Lakehead shot .500 from the floor. National team member Carol Hamilton scored 29 for the Vees but Laurentian shot only .350 from the floor. Lakehead coach Stu Julius called it a vindication for the Nor’westers, who were unranked nationally until late in the season. Laurentian had lost only three times all season, all to Toronto. Carol Hamilton led the Voyageurs with 29. Ann Rimes added 12.
In the last quarterfinal, Lethbridge dumped McGill 66-61 as Dawn Fry scored 18. Janet Swords led the Martlets with 22. Lethbridge led 38-30 at the half.
In the semis, Toronto defeated Lethbridge 84-78. Lethbridge coach Louisa Zerbe said her Pronghorns were once the “doormat of the country” but gave Toronto a game. Toronto was ahead 38-36 at the half and took over in the third quarter. National team members Pat Melville and Angela Orton scored 25 apiece. Toronto took a 15-point lead before Lethbridge narrowed it to six and missed a layup which would have closed it to four with a minute to go. Belanger said she was shaken by the episode. “That’s never happened to us before, to get up by that much and then fall apart. Lethbridge played with a lot of heart and showed some good rebounding. We were starting to rush it a bit at the end and taking some pretty low percentage shots. Quite frankly, Lethbridge caused us to lose our concentration, which was a little worrisome.”
In the other semi, Victoria defeated Lakehead 81-66 as Lori Clarke, who played two years at Eastern Washington, and Susie Neil each scored 19. Janet Fowler added 16, Sandy Pothier 9, Rini Sladecek 9, Karla Karch 5, Tessa Valg 2 and Liza Sara 2, while Sandi Begg, Adele Fedorak and Joanne Nutini were scoreless. Lynne Brown led the Nor’Westers with 16. Monica Burchart added 14, Julia Scott 12, Leslie Edworsy 8, Astrid Kniepp 7, Karen Brown 5, Jennifer Powley 2 and Doris Burchert 2, while Kathy Gazda, Bernadette Fracis and Barbara Grace were scoreless.
In the bronze medal match, the Lethbridge Pronghorns led by all-star Dori Rodzinyak, who scored 24, and Dawn Fry, who scored 23, downed Lakehead 81-73 (also reported as 87-81).
Toronto captured its first CIS title and completed an undefeated 27-0 season by defeating Victoria 68-63. Toronto played a tight game, outshooting and outscoring the taller Victoria team. The Blues were led by tournament MP Angela Orton, who scored 16, Nan Copp winner Pat Melville, who scored 17, and point guard Theresa Burns, who notched 11. Pegg Blumenthal added 4 and Sandy Clubb 2, while Samantha Reed, Lynn Schulze, Juliane Sandrine, Ann Marie Bottineau, Anne Brozic and Nicki Berstick were scoreless. Toronto put pressure on Victoria’s top scorers drastically reducing their percentages. Victoria had some trouble getting the ball in from the free throw line in the first half, hitting .360, with a slight improvement of 43% in the second half, while Toronto was good 78% of the time.” Lori Clarke led Victoria with 23. Susie Neil added 14, Janet Fowler 9, Karla Karch 8, Sandy Pothier 7 and Tessa Valg 2, while Sandi Begg, Adele Fedorak, Joanne Nutini, Rini Sladecek and Liz Sara were scoreless. Toronto led 37-34 at the half. Victoria’s pressure defence held Toronto to a .360 shooting percentage in the first half. The Blues featured four returning starters, including All-Canadian forwards Orton and Melville, as well as Burns and Blumenthal. Clubb and Kowal also saw a lot playing time. Reed and Bottineau were rookies. Coach Michelle Belanger was in her seventh season at Toronto, after three years on the national team and four years on Laurentian championship teams. Man-to–man defence was the trademark of the team. Belanger dubbed it “a team that came together. Right from the first practice in September, the team subconsciously thought they were going to win the title. It’s not something we discussed, either individually or as a team, but it was there from the first practice.” She also cited five-year vets Pat Melville and Angela Orton for their excellent seasons. “Neither played a bad game. Not once. They were great all year. That team was a coach’s dream. We hardly ever had to raise our voices. The team trained very hard, but there was no trouble because the results were so apparent. And, of course, there was the national tournament. Even though the final against the U. of Victoria was close, we all felt it was our game. We had worked hard for four or five years and it was ours. It was a nice way to send Pat and Angela off.” The Blues finished (30-0) against Canadian competition, and (33-2) overall on the season. Belanger told TSN that “I had a feeling in my heart that we would win even from the very beginning, but I knew it wouldn’t be an easy win.”
The all-tourney team featured: MVP Angela Orton (Toronto); Monica Burchert (Lakehead); Lori Clarke (Victoria); Pat Melville (Toronto); Susie Neil (Victoria); and Dori Rodzinyak (Lethbridge)
The bronze medalist Lethbridge Pronghorns: Sharon Hamilton; Dori Rodzinyak; Dawn Fry; Ingeborg Pot; Jodi Savage; Margie Gal; Pauline Van Roessel; Mary Jo Sorenson; Sheila Hirch; Lorraine Beaudin; Kathleen Brewin; Stacey French; Jodi Savage; coach Louisa Zerbe; assistant Cal O’Brien; athletic director Dr. Gary Bowie; SID Scot Packham
The silver medalist Victoria Vikings: Susie Neil; Lori Clarke; Janet Fowler; Tessa Valg; Sandy Pothier; Karla Karch; Rini Sladecek; Adele Fedorak; Elizabeth Sara; Joanne Nutini; Sandi Begg; Kim Poland; Irene Sladecek; Sandra Hughes; coach Kathy Shields; assistant Janine Prince; athletic director Ken Shields; SID Barry Read
The champion University of Toronto Varsity Blues: Angela Orton; Pat Melville; Peggy Blumenthal; Theresa Burns; Mary Anne Kowal; Sandy Clubb; Samantha Reed; Anne Marie Bottineau; Nicky Berswick; Anna Brozic; Juliane Sandrin; Lynn Schulze; Leslie MacLean; coach Michelle Belanger