REGULAR SEASON
Victoria | 20-0 | 33-1 | Kathy Shields | ||||||
Lethbridge | 14-6 | Dori Rodzinyak-Johnson | |||||||
Calgary | 9-11 | Donna Rudakas | |||||||
U.B.C. | 8-12 | Misty Thomas | |||||||
Alberta | 6-14 | 8-20 | Trix Baker | ||||||
Saskatchewan | 3-17 | Irene Wallace | |||||||
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Alberta Pandas: Tracie Wilkie, Susan Chalmers, Lisa Kartusch, Jonene Schalm, Loralyn Murdoch, Jodi Gosling, Lisa Stubbs, Corey Ennis, Kimberley Spencer, Susan Yackabowski, Karen Brydon, Brandi DeLeeuw, Rosemarie Schoonderbeek, coach Trix Kannekens-Baker
Saskatchewan Huskies: Sherri Theis, Leanne Springer, Stacy Wilson, Kirsten Van Aelst, Kelly Wilson, Sharlene Brecknell, Nanette Anderson, Tara Classen, Tara Werschler, Kyla Dunlop, Susan Deibert, Heather Stalwick, Lori Henderson, Melanie Rakochy, coach Irene Wallace
In the postseason tournament, held in Victoria, Lethbridge thumped Calgary 76-62 in the semis after ripping off a 15-0 run in the second half. The Dinosaurs led 40-25 at the half. “We took an early lead and were up 8-2, then Calgary hit a three to make it close,” said Pronghorn coach Dori Rodzinyak. “Then we missed some easy tuck-ins and couldn’t catch the ball. Then Calgary took the lead and we got real nervous. We just had to get refocused at the half and that was the difference in the second half.” Calgary coach Donna Rudakas said “it was a spirited effort. We tried hard. But when pressure came, the defence fell apart.” Joanne Tegart paced Lethbridge with 24 points and 14 boards. Vanessa Upton added 16 and Shari Jensen 10. Mirijana Milicenvic led Calgary with 14. Lisa Bacigalupi added 12 and Melita Bishop 12. “Shari was the player of the game for us,” said Rodzinyak. “In the second half we decided to run them and she led the fastbreak with assertion. It was we were two different teams in one game. I’ve seen us like that on different nights, but never like this. The attitude and confidence did a 180 in the second half.”
In the other semi, Victoria throttled U.B.C. 84-60.
In the bronze medal match, Calgary nipped U.B.C. 59-58 as Meagan Koch scored 26, Lisa Bacigalupi 14, Audra Duregon 11, Melita Bishop 2, Denise Page 2 and Tanis Outhet 2, while Marijana Millicevic, Jodi Knoll and Preya Schuffler were scoreless. Lisa Nickle led the Thunderbirds with 11. Carrie Carlsen added 10, Claire Polomark 10, Tracey Smillie 8, Adair Duncan 5, Elissa Beckett 4, Wendi Palmer 4 and Tiffany Chester 4, while Jenny Mann was scoreless. The Thunderbirds (coached by Misty Thomas) also included Cheryl Kinton, Dawn Ashby, Cheryl Woods, Michel Matte and Karen Borsutsky.
In the final, Lethbridge stunned previously undefeated and second-ranked Victoria Vikes 70-59 as Andrea Hlady scored 21, Shari Jensen 13 and Shannon Frier 13. “What a tremendous feeling! This is so great,” said Pronghorns coach Dory Rodzinyak. “The girls played very well to beat the No. 2 team in the country, and the key was our ball movement. In the past, we were intimidated by their zone coverage, but they allowed us to penetrate their zone and that was the difference.” The Pronghorns led 36-32 at the half and held a five-point lead with two minutes left in the game. “The girls never lost their composure and played very smart in the last few minutes. It was just a great game and a great boost for us to go into nationals,” added Rodzinyak. Tara Galloway paced Victoria with 16.
After the season, the league votes to abandon the single knockout tourney.
The bronze medalist Calgary Dinosaurs: Lisa Bacigalupi; Meagan Koch; Audra Duregon; Melita Bishop; Kara Haines; Denise Page; Josine Kuipers; Preya Schuffler; Tanis Outhet; Mirijana Milicevic; Jodi Knoll; Celina Prete; Erin McAlister; Joy Anderson; coach Donna Roman-Rudakas; athletic director Dr. Robert Corran; SID Jack Neumann
The silver medalist Victoria Vikings: Tara Gallaway; Heather Bohez; Kristine Brown; Christina Van Aert; Sue Tomio; Andrey Dennison; Cherie Birtwhistle; Charlene Klasema; Rachel Sexton; Keri Anne Butterworth; Tamara Carruthers; Lisa Bright; Lisa Koop; coach Kathy Shields; assistant Jeff Speedy; NCI apprentice coach Kathy Keats; NCI apprentice coach Tracey Bowie; manager Helen Hamilton; trainer Marcel Charland; SID Greg Gidman; athletic director Wayne MacDonald
The champion Lethbridge Pronghorns: Shannon Frier; Vanessa Upton; Andrea Hlady; Shari Jensen; Joanne Tegart; Jenni Washburn; Lindy Westrop; Jill Carley; Trish Lorenz; Jody Hooker; Tanya Huggins; Shannon Hecker; Janice Gyorkos; coach Dori Johnson; assistant Cal O’Brien; assistant Lynette Taal; assistant Ingeborg Pot; manager Fiona Wood; manager Jody Hooker; trainer Don Mattern; athletic director Murray McAuley; SID Bruce Vance