McGill’s Vicky Tessier is awarded the Nan Copp. The fifth-year chemistry student from Chateauguay, Quebec led the country in scoring with 517 points in 20 games. She had the second highest scoring average with 25.9 ppg. The 5-11 forward finished fourth in the nation with a .575 field goal percentage, sixth in free throw shooting with a .844 percentage, and 15th in rebounding with a 7.7 rpg. Tessier holds McGill’s career records for scoring (2,564 in 139 games), rebounds, assists, field goals, free throws attempted and free throws made. She was an All-Canadian all five years of her career, the first time the feat was accomplished. She was also the first player in the country to win her conference MVP award for five consecutive campaigns. In 33 games during the season, Tessier led her team in scoring 26 times and in rebounding 33 times. She posted seven double-doubles.
Regina’s Christine Stapleton was named the Ennis recipient. Stapleton led the Cougars to a 11-2 conference mark and an overall record of 23-4. They were 7-8 in conference play in 95-96.
Calgary’s Leighann Doan was awarded the Shields. The 5-10 native of Halkirk, 18, was a second team Canada West all-star after finishing second in the conference in scoring with a 17.1 ppg. “Everything went my way,” said Doan. “It seemed like everything just kind of fell into place.” Doan’s teammates said she was entirely deserving. “We pretty much assumed (she’d win the award),” said Amy Wesseling. “In our very first tournament (in October), she was our scoring leader, player of the game and an all-star. She came in and just took over. I don’t even think of her as being a rookie.” Doan scored in double figures in all but one league game as the Dinosaurs racked up a 13-7 record before losing to Alberta in the postseason semis. “She’s going to be the next great player in this country,” said coach Shawnee Harle. “She was pretty much in a league by herself.”
Joining Tessier as 1st-team All-Canadians were: Karen Jackson (York); Terrilee Johannesson (Manitoba); Lisa Koop (Victoria); and Trena Mott (Regina). …………………………………………………… Johannsen, enrolled in arts, was in her 5th year with Manitoba. The 5-7 point guard was chosen MVP at the 1996 and 1997 nationals. In the 1997 final, Manitoba dumped York 73-62 as Johannesson scored 19, including 15 in the first half. In the GPAC championships, she clicked for 32, 31 and 39 points against Regina. The first-team GPAC all-star was the CIAU’s leading scorer with a 26.2 ppg and was named All-Canadian for the third year in a row. In 1996, she was selected the university’s athlete of the year and the province’s athlete of the year. Named Bison MVP for the previous three seasons, Johannsen was a member of 1995 Canada team at the world university Games and a member of the 1991 Manitoba team that won gold at the national junior women’s’ championships.
The 2nd-team All-Canadians were: Stella Ighorewo (Ottawa); Marjorie Kelly (Manitoba); Theresa MacCuish (St. FX); Angela Nobes (Western); and Carolyn Wares (Dalhousie). …………………………………………………… Ighorewo grabbed the CIAU rebounding record with 711 after surpassing the former record of 661 set in 1977. The 24-year-old graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science, averaged 18.0 ppg (14th in the nation) and was the third best rebounder in the OWIAA with 117 boards. …………………………………………………… Wares, a fourth-year student from Calgary Western Canada High.