The three Manitoba teams again participate in the NIAC.
Prior to the NIAC postseason tournament, Red River, Providence and the Canadian Mennonite Blazers met for the MCAC title.
In the semi, the 2nd-seeded Providence University College Pilots dispatched the 3rd-seeded Red River Rebels 61-53. Hannah Van Schie was chosen player of the game for the Pilots, while Cyzelle Mas earned the laurels for the Rebels. The Pilots led 16-10, 31-19 and 48-35 at the quarters. Katelin Thiessen paced the Pilots with 13 on 4-12 from the floor, 5-8 from the line, 6 boards, 4 assists and 2 steals. Hannah Van Schie added 12 on 4-7 from the floor, 4-5 from the line, 9 boards and 2 assists. Joanne Schwarz notched 9 on 3-6 from the floor, 3-4 from the arc, 2 assists and 2 steals. Alison Zajac scored 8 on 4-11 from the floor, 0-2 from the line, 10 boards and 4 steals. Natalya Reimer added 6 on 3-5 from the floor and 6 boards. Esther Ruchegeza added 6 on 3-7 from the floor and 7 boards. Megan Wiebe notched 5 on 2-12 from the floor, 1-6 from the arc and 4 boards. Taylor Goodbrandson added 2 on 1-8 from the floor, 0-3 from the arc, 3 boards and 3 steals, while Catherine Ross was scoreless. The Pilots hit 24-68 (.353) from the floor, 4-13 (.308) from the arc and 9-15 (.600) from the line, while garnering 50 boards, including 14 on the offensive glass, 11 fouls, 9 assists, 21 turnovers and 13 steals. Czyelle Mas paced the Rebels with 18 on 7-20 from the floor, 1-5 from the arc, 3-4 from the line, 4 boards and 2 steals. Kaitlyn Waddell added 12 on 5-11 from the floor, 2-4 from the line, 11 boards and 3 steals. Cayla Sagun notched 9 on 4-13 from the floor, 1-6 from the arc, 5 boards, 2 assists and 3 steals. Tiara Cruz scored 5 on 1-4 from the floor, 1-3 from the arc, 2-4 from the line and 3 boards. Kaelei Daniels added 5 on 2-13 from the floor, 1-2 from the line, 4 boards, 3 assists and 3 steals. Jaira Labelle added 2 on 1-2 from the floor and 4 boards. Janelle Pierre-Folster scored 2 on 1-3 from the floor and 4 boards. The Rebels hit 21-66 (.318) from the floor, 3-14 (.214) from the arc and 8-14 (.571) from the line, while garnering 45 boards, including 11 on the offensive glass, 17 fouls, 7 assists, 24 turnovers and 12 steals.
In the final, the top-seeded host Canadian Mennonite Blazers nipped the 2nd-seeded Providence University College Pilots 54-51. “The way we did it was more incredible because we didn’t play very well for 36 minutes of that game,” Blazers coach Joe DiCurzio said. The Pilots led 17-15, 24-21 and 39-37 at the quarters. The Blazers shifted to a zone in the second half, while Shirliz Apiyo and Finals MVP Jessica Marx-Houndle got on track as Canadian Mennonite eventually rallied from a 10-point deficit to pull out the win. “They’re just so quick, we have such a tough time matching up with them,” DiCurzio said. “We had to play a lot more zone than we wanted to.” Marx-Houndle said she thought teammate Apiyo deserved the MVP award. “She hit some clutch shots and we needed that.” With 1:30 left in the fourth quarter, Marx-Houndle scored a lay-up, got fouled and sank the free throw to tie the game. Apiyo promptly hit a jumper to give the Blazers a 53-51 lead. Marx-Houndle said “to be honest, I did not think I played that good. I told myself that if I just hustled, even if I didn’t make shots, we’d be ok. Then I won’t get mad with how I played.” Di Curzio said “Jessica came through and played incredible, like the veteran she is. She’s used to playing under pressure, and it doesn’t bother her whatsoever.” Jessica Marx-Houndle paced the Blazers with 17 on 6-18 from the floor, 0-2 from the arc, 5-7 from the line, 19 boards, 4 assists and 2 steals. Shirliz Apiyo added 14 on 6-22 from the floor, 0-2 from the arc, 2-4 from the line, 4 boards, 2 assists and 2 steals. Madison Wood notched 13 on 5-15 from the floor, 0-2 from the arc, 3-6 from the line, 5 boards and 2 steals. Carley Matkowski scored 6 on 3-8 from the floor and 2 boards. Julia Ignagni added 2 on 1-2 from the floor and 2 boards. Keirra Skolnik notched 2 on 1-4 from the floor and 5 boards, while Samarah Fangmann, Christina Klysh, Hannah Murdy, Sarah Boyd, Olivia Sheldon and Michayle Bottomley were scoreless. Bottomley nabbed 12 boards, Klysh 3 and Murdy 2. The Blazers hit 22-79 (.278) from the floor, 0-6 from the arc and 10-17 (.588) from the line, while garnering 65 boards, including 26 on the offensive glass, 10 fouls, 7 assists, 16 turnovers, 2 blocks and 7 steals. Hannah Van Schie paced the Pilots with 14 on 6-16 from the floor, 1-2 from the arc, 1-2 from the line, 11 boards and 3 steals. Taylor Goodbrandson added 12 on 5-22 from the floor, 2-8 from the arc, 3 boards, 2 assists and 3 steals. Natalya Reimer notched 6 on 3-10 from the floor, 0-1 from the arc and 5 boards. Esther Ruchegeza scored 6 on 3-7 from the floor, 0-2 from the line and 8 boards. Katelin Thiessen added 5 on 1-8 from the floor, 0-2 from the arc, 3-4 from the line and 8 boards. Megan Wiebe notched 4 on 1-8 from the floor, 0-5 from the arc, 2-2 from the line, 5 boards, 2 blocks and 3 steals. Joanne Schwarz scored 3 on 1-3 from the arc, 2 boards and 2 assists. Alison Zajac added 1 on 0-3 from the arc, 1-2 from the line and 4 boards, while Catherine Ross was scoreless. The Pilots hit 20-77 (.260) from the floor, 4-21 (.190) from the arc and 7-12 (.583) from the line, while garnering 57 boards, including 22 on the offensive glass, 14 fouls, 7 assists, 17 turnovers, 4 blocks and 12 steals.
Final NIAC standings: Canadian Mennonite (13-1); Providence University College (12-2); Sisseton Wahpeton College (8-6); Turtle Mountain CC (7-7); Trinity Bible College (6-8); Association Free Lutheran Bible School (5-9); Red River College (5-9); Leech Lake Tribal College (0-14)
In the quarterfinals, the 2nd-seeded Providence University College Pilots dusted the 7th-seeded Red River Rebels 65-36.
The 3rd-seeded Sisseton Wahpeton College Mustangs clipped the 6th-seeded Association Free Lutheran Bible School Crusaders 77-69.
In the last quarterfinal, the 5th-seeded Trinity Bible College Lions dumped the 4th-seeded Turtle Mountain CC Mighty Mikinocks 78-67.
In the semis, the 5th-seeded Trinity Bible College Lions stunned the top-seeded Canadian Mennonite Blazers 58-56.
In the other semi, the 2nd-seeded Providence University College Pilots dispatched the 3rd-seeded Sisseton Wahpeton College Mustangs 74-68.
In the final, the 2nd-seeded Providence University College Pilots defeated the 5th-seeded Trinity Bible College Lions 73-60.
The NIAC all-conference team included Canadian Mennonite’s Jessica Marx-Houndle and Julia Schatkowsky; Providence’s Taylor Goodbrandson and Joanne Schwarz; and Red River’s Lacey Finbogason and Zera-Lynn Panessa. Honourable mentions included Canadian Mennonite’s Kiara Rongavilla; Providence’s Alison Zajac; and Red River’s Robelie Aaron.
The bronze medalist Red River Rebels: Jaira Labelle; Melanie Gordon; Czyelle Mas; Cayla Sagun; Claudia Anderson; Zineb Moustarzak; Kaelei Daniels; Janelle Pierre-Folster; Tiara Cruz;
The silver medalist (and NIAC champion) Providence University College Pilots: Katelin Thiessen; Joanne Schwarz; Taylor Goodbrandson; Catherine Ross; Alison Zajac; Hannah Van Schie; Natalya Reimer; Megan Wiebe; Amei Grant; Esther Ruchegeza; coach and assistant athletic director Joel Coursey; assistant Joey Traa; assistant Helen Schapansky; manager Tate Kushnir
The champion (and NIAC co-bronze medalist) Canadian Mennonite Blazers: Carley Matkowski; Madison Wood; Samarah Fangmann; Julia Ignagni; Christina Klysh; Hannah Murdy; Julia Schatkowsky; Jessica Marx-Houndle; Shirliz Apiyo; Kayla Dao; Sarah Boyd; Olivia Sheldon; Michayle Bottomley; Keirra Skolnik; Kiara Rongavilla; coach Joe DiCurzio; assistant Mike Wilson; assistant Sheree Carmona-Galdamez; assistant Marijus Timmerman; assistant Cassie Wiebe; manager Kiran Bajwa