Final regular season standings:
N (6): Grant MacEwan (17-3); Augustana (15-5); Red Deer (10-10); Grande Prairie (9-11); NAIT (5-15); The King’s University College (4-16)
S (6): SAIT (19-1); Mount Royal (17-3); Lethbridge (9-11); Medicine Hat (8-12); Briercrest (6-14); Prairie Bible (1-19)
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Briercrest Bible: Catherine Reed, Mariah Persinger, Rolanda Collins, Carrie Schauefele, Suzanne Karthius, Gina DeFrancesco, Kim O’Dwyer, Des MacFarlane, Candace Goertzen, Sara Thiessen, Amy Kuhn
King’s University College: Heidi Ciezki, Kellie Boysen, Tammy St. Louis, Patty Luymes, Andrea Rozema, Kjerstin Korzan, Gina Allen, Rose VanderHoek, Christy Luymes, Angela Reiger
NAIT: Jane Odegard, Brianne Webb, Jessica Pitzel, Michelle Reeder, Carly Aubertin, Brandy Ryder, Keri Dentrey, Catherine Lalonde, Sarah McLean, Jennifer Fead, Lana Sammut, Stephanie Behm
Prairie Bible: Mary Fehr, Heidi Zurbriggen, Joanna Klemowitz, Reta Wright, Lindsay Holmes, Joanne Fraser, Holly Penner, Tanya Priebe, Krista Amendt, Christine Plett, Jenn Hockney, Amy Shaw
In the quarterfinals, the Grant MacEwan Griffins defeated the Medicine Hat Rattlers 106-83; 83-62 (2g-0). The Rattlers included Taryn Sehn, Suzanne Sadownik, Katie Johnson, Jill Cleland, Andrea Fowlie, Erin Lawson, Amanda George, Stacey Ewankiw, Deana Seida, Johanna Stauffer and Lindsey Engel.
The SAIT Trojans defeated the Grande Prairie Wolves 91-53; 77-46 (2g-0). The Wolves included Someh Nienyor, Stephanie Ruch, Crystal DeCosta, Kristi Stucklschwaiger, Kelly Yorston, Jen Eagleson, Leann Van Haastert, Krista Mitchell and Lisa Clark.
The Augustana Vikings defeated the Lethbridge Kodiettes 58-41; 68-49 (2g-0). The Kodiettes (coached by Dawn Keith) included Terra Taylor, Tulani Ackerman, Wendy McMurray, Melanie Wecker, Adrienne Roczki, Inga Workman, Lora Scott, Nicole Baker, Jaime Ramsdal, Melanie Marek, Darci Hamilton, Carol Melting Tallow and Wendy Molcak.
In the last quarterfinal series, the Mount Royal Cougars defeated the Red Deer Queens 73-48; 88-53 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game one, Mount Royal pounded Red Deer 73-48 as Jen Holowski scored 10 and Leah Nikiforuk 10. Jill Potts led the Queens with 10. Cori Dixon added 8. The Cougars led 29-24 at the half but Red Deer scored just one point in the first seven minutes of the second half. Queens coach Pat Rawlusyk told the Red Deer Advocate that “it’s something which has bothered us all season. We missed three layups, including two early in thehalf which would have brought us within one. You simply cannot beat a good team shooting like that.” …………………………………………………… In game two, Mount Royal completed the series sweep with an 88-53 win as Katie Kinsman scored 10, Sherri Webster 10, Chelsa McCorquindale 10 and Candace McMaster 10. The Cougars led 40-25 at the half. Cougars coach Donovan Martin told the Red Deer Advocate that “depth is the strength of our team. I don’t know what the total was tonight but in the first game, the least number of minutes a player had was 12. We have so much depth that we’re able to maintain a high level of intensity and consistently keep up the pressure.” The Cougars outrebounded the Queens 33-25. Tami Woodward paced the Queens with 13. Corina Dunn added 9 and Tracy Gyurkovits 9. The Queens also included Jill Potts, Gillis Bell, Lisa Cruikshank, Rayna Robinson, Sarah Dezall, Aue Dersch, Meagan Nolin, Amanda Nichols, Jessica Clevette, J’Anna Aitchison and Carleen Barret. Queens coach Pat Rawlusyk said “Mount Royal deserved a lot of credit; they play so well. Their defence is tremendous. … They shoot well and it’s from everyone. … They didn’t have any real down time during which we could possibly make a run. As well, we didn’t do a good enough job on the boards at both ends. We needed to get more second-shot opportunities.”
In the Final Four semis, held in Calgary, the Mount Royal Cougars defeated the Grant MacEwan Griffins 73-68 as Sherri Webster scored 17. Tamara Edwards led the Griffins with 20.
In the other semi, the SAIT Trojans stomped the Augustana Vikings 94-56 as Lisa Ozcan scored 34 and Rhona McKenzie 16. Korrie Smith led the Vikings with 14.
In the bronze medal match, the Grant MacEwan Griffins whipped the Augustana Vikings 77-42. The Vikings included Korrie Smith, Leah Bowal, Megan Ellsworth, Heather Harburn, Kelly Smith, Megan Person, Jamie South, Megan Fraser, Jeanna Woodward, Billie Sue Blackmer, Amanda Forstbauer, Robyn Danyluk and Tena Clark.
In the final, the SAIT Trojans defeated the Mount Royal Cougars 68-60 in overtime. The Cougars opened with a 4-0 run as Candace McMaster notched a pair of free throws and a field goal. Mount Royal dominated the first half but rallied to a 55-53 lead with three seconds to play before Jen Halowski forced overtime by hitting a field goal for Mount Royal. Lisa Jensen led SAIT with 23. Emily Williams paced Mount Royal with 14. SAIT coach Avery Harrison said his team played poorly in the first half. “At the break, I told the team this is character builder for us. All these teams we overcome; all these adversities make us tougher as the year goes on and that we’ve got 20 more minutes to finish off the season.” Cougars coach Donavan Martin said the breaks went SAIT’s way. “A bounce anywhere along the way and it would have been us in regulation.”
Near the end of the season, Lethbridge coach Dawn Keith announces that she is retiring. “For the first time in my life I won’t be involved in basketball at a high level,” Keith told the Lethbridge Herald. “With a young family, it’s become more difficult to make the time to do the fundraising, volunteering as well as the coaching.” She is replaced by men’s assistant and former Kodiak star (1983-86) Brad Karren, who was also the son of former Kodiak coach and LCC’s first athletic director Tom Karren. The younger Karren led the Magrath Zeniths to a boy’s provincial title before joining the Kodiaks. “I went back and took over the family farm and coached junior varsity basketball in Magrath under the tutelage of Phil Tollestrup,” said Karren. “I learned a lot from Dad about what it takes to win championships — defence.”
The bronze medalist Grant MacEwan Griffins: Naomi Man In’tVeld; Shannon Walton; Sherri-Dawn Acker; Jen Campbell; Kristin Baker; Fiona Halbert; Rebecca Kutney; Michelle MacKinnon; Tamara Edwards; Sue Tames; Jody Olson; Lynsay Hurd;
The silver medalist Mount Royal Cougars: Katie Kinsman; Emily Williams; Sherri Webster; Jen Halowski; Candace McMaster; Leah Nikiforuk; Paula Walker; Anita de Menezes; Allaina Gibb; Libby Miller; Chrissy Job; Chelsea McCorquindale;
The gold medalist SAIT Trojans: Lori Jackson, Lisa Jensen, Chantelle Kennedy, Carmen Rutherford, Sabrina Shaw, Stacey Kaluta, Melissa McIlhone; Khadijah Akbar; Lisa Ozcan; Mar Nai Hunt; Kendra Senger; Nicole LeClair; Laura Gordon; Rhona McKenzie; Courtenay Harrison; Tiffany Mochinski; Jen Wosnack; coach Avery Harrison; associate Rae Fehr; assistant Erhayat Ozcan; trainer Jackie Keyowski; therapist Will McMillan; manager Dave Clark