Saskatchewan’s Sarah Crooks was named recipient of the Nan Copp. Crooks, a native of Fife Lake, was the first Huskie but the ninth straight representative from Canada West to win the award. The 6-3, fourth year forward led the CIS in rebounding with a 13.4 rpg, was second in the nation in scoring with 23.6 ppg, and recorded 17 double-doubles in 20 conference games. The 22-year-old led the Huskies to their best-ever season with a 17-3 conference record, first-ever Canada West title, and first berth to the CIS nationals since 1982. Crooks became both the Huskies all-time leading scorer and rebounder, earned her third consecutive selection as an all-Canadian, her second straight on the first team, and was named Canada West defensive player of the year. Crooks started playing competitive basketball in grade 10. She comes from a family of 12 children, larger than this year’s ten-player Huskie squad. Studying in the College of Arts & Science, Crooks is also a CIS Academic all-Canadian. She was a member of the Canadian national team for the last two summers, helping the team to its first world championship berth in 10 years this past fall. “Sarah has continued to raise the level of her game each and every year through tireless effort and dedication to her sport,” said Saskatchewan coach Lisa Thomaidis. “I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach Sarah. She truly is the type of student-athlete that only comes along once in a coach’s career.” Crooks is the first University of Saskatchewan Huskie to win the 27-year-old award. The prestigious prize caught the self-effacing Crooks off guard, even though she was considered the heavy favourite. “My coaches told me to have a speech ready and I was like ‘I’m not going to be making a speech. Don’t worry’,” Crooks said. “It came as a shock. I wasn’t expecting it.” Crooks broke through the top layer after a humble start. The 6- foot-2 post was raw and unknown when she left her home in tiny Fife Lake and headed to the U of S for the 2002-03 season. Crooks led the nation with 13.4 rebounds per game this season and placed second with 23.6 points per outing. She led her Huskies to their first nationals in 24 years. They’ll take their No. 1 seeding into today’s opening game against host New Brunswick.
Cape Breton’s Fabian McKenzie was named the Ennis winner. The Glace Bay, Nova Scotia native was selected the AUAA coach of the year for the second time, having earlier earned the laurels in 2002. In his seventh season at the helm of the Capers, McKenzie led his troops to first place in the Maritimes with a 16-4 regular-season record (26-6 overall), and a second AUS title in three years following a 68-56 win over Saint Mary’s in the conference final. McKenzie inherited a Capers team that went 2-18 in 1998-99. Since going 1-19 in his first season behind the bench, he has guided Cape Breton to a conference record of 84-56, including a stellar 68-12 mark over the past four campaigns. McKenzie, attended both Cape Breton University and the University of New Brunswick.
Western Ontario’s
Amanda Anderson was named the Shields recipient. The Chatham native was the third player from the
OUA in as many years to win the award. The 5-foot-8 guard stepped right in as a
starter for the Mustangs and logged in 30.9 mpg, second on the team, while
leading the Mustangs in scoring with an 11.7 ppg over 22 conference games. She
was second on the Mustangs for three-point shooting percentage (.350) and
assists (2.64 apg), and finished third in the OUA and sixth in the nation with
an .855 percentage from the line. She was named to the OUA West first all-star
team, and helped Western keep a 14-8 record in the regular season, good for
fourth place in the OUA West and a playoff berth. “Amanda is an example
of what very talented Canadian high school players are capable of immediately
if they stay in Canada,”
commented Western Ontario coach Mike Milne. “Amanda
was consistently our best offensive player all season long, and her work ethic
and passion for the game sets her apart from her peers.”
McMaster’s Chiara Rocca was selected Defensive player of the year. The Sarnia native and 6-1 third-year
forward helped anchor a stingy McMaster defense that allowed the second lowest
number of points in the nation (50.2 ppg) behind OUA rival York (49.7), and
kept the opposition to a CIS-low 31.4 field goal percentage. The 21-year-old
geography student was fourth in the country in blocked shots with 33 (1.5 bpg),
and fifth in rebounding (8.82 rpg). She was named to the OUA West first
all-star team, while leading the Marauders to a 17-5 conference record and the
OUA championship.
Joining Crooks as 1st-team All-Canadians were: Emilie Crofton (Bishop’s); Cassandra Carpenter (Laurentian); Carolyn Plummer (New Brunswick); and Julia Wilson (Simon Fraser). …………………………………………………… Crofton, a junior humanities student from San Jose, California. …………………………………………………… Carpenter, a junior special education student from Kanata. …………………………………………………… Plummer, a BRSS student from Fredericton. …………………………………………………… Wilson, a fourth-year communications student from Mission.
The 2nd-team All-Canadians were: Uzo Asagwara (Winnipeg); Meaghan McGrath (Wilfrid Laurier); Mireille Karangwa (U.Q.A.M.); Kelsey Blair (U.B.C.); and Ryan McKay (Dalhousie). …………………………………………………… Asagwara, a fourth-year science student from Winnipeg, led the nation in scoring with a 24.5 ppg. …………………………………………………… McGrath, a fourth-year kinesiology student from Toronto. …………………………………………………… Karangwa, a fifth-year kinesiology student from Burundi. …………………………………………………… Blair, a fourth-year arts student from North Vancouver. …………………………………………………… McKay, a fourth-year kinesiology student from Fredericton.
Joining Anderson on the all-rookie unit were: Catherine Parent (McGill); Kelsey Daley (St. Mary’s); Laura Craig (Trinity Western); and Alaine Hutton (Toronto). …………………………………………………… Parent, a phys ed student from Sept-Iles. …………………………………………………… Daley, a science student from Fredericton. …………………………………………………… Craig, a UNDC student from Delta. …………………………………………………… Hutton, an Arts & Science student from Hamilton.