Final regular season standings:
N (7): Augustana (24-0); Grant MacEwan (17-7); Grande Prairie (13-11); Concordia (11-13); Red Deer (9-15); King’s University College (6-18); NAIT (4-20)
S (6): Lethbridge (18-2); Mount Royal (18-2); SAIT (10-10); Medicine Hat (10-10); Prairie Bible (3-17); Briercrest (1-19)
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Briercrest: Shellie Dykshoorn, Kristy Koop, Beckie Dykshoorn, Rebecca Delleman, Krista Osborne, Nitra Plesko, Britt Smilinski, Pam Murray, Andrea Moller, Melissa Rose, Sarah McLaughlin, Charlotte Herrel
King’s University College: Christie Darius, Kelly Frost, Kristen Jervis, Janelle Schenk, Robin Joy, Erin Wisselink, Taylor Bean, Tracey Webb, Themis Laffitte, Sarah Nicolai, Julie Schenk, Amy Allison
NAIT: Jenna Badry, Nicole Fessier, Kelsey Charuk, Cali Payne, Jill Lindstrand, Amy-Jean Easton, Mandy Squire, Lorraine Stelck, Shannon Pasiuk, Ashley McNeill, Cindy Mohn
Prairie Bible: Carrie McMann, Deb Krause, Angela Morales, Rachael Schnider, Shirley Larson, Erica Rude, La Dessa Riffle, Sadie Mitchell, Tara Davidson
Red Deer: Andi Crowe-Swords, Janet Ariss, Jessica Barnes, Timmery Welsh, Marilyn Judson, Taylor Jacobson, Melanie Wecker, Kahle Erichsen, Erin Wright, Tessa Jordan, Ruth Fitzsimonds, Kandis Hiemstra, Jessica Long, Jessica Kowalchuk
In the quarterfinals, the Augustana Vikings defeated the Medicine Hat Rattlers 79-44; 72-34 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game one Augustana throttled Medicine Hat 79-34. …………………………………………………… In game two, the Vikings completed the series sweep with a 72-34 victory. “It was close for a while in the first half, but they are a big, strong, athletic team,” said Rattlers coach Brian Kannekens told the Medicine Hat News. “But we had a good year. Our goal at the beginning of the year was to make the playoff and we did. Now we have to work on building on that for next year.” Erin Lawson led the Rattlers with 11. “She was outstanding in her last game,” Kannekens said. The Rattlers also included Pamela Gottselig, Daphne Gottselig, Alyssa Chomick, Robin Seida, Lindsay Woodward, Dana Skorenki, Amanda Anderson, Janice Moch, Colleen Biegel, Jocelynne Adams and Courtney Currie.
The Lethbridge Kodiettes defeated Concordia 73-38; 63-50 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game one, Lethbridge romped to an easy 73-38 win after forcing 35 turnovers and stealing the ball 22 times. Kim Bridge paced the Kodiaks with 17. Deana Dypolt added 9 and Kathryn Bekkering 9, while Jesse McMillan nabbed 12 boards. …………………………………………………… In game two, Lethbridge completed the sweep with a 63-50 win after leading 32-24 at the half. Kim Bridge paced Lethbridge with 9. “We played a very good first half, absolutely and the nice thing was our young team really thought they competed and that was a good sign. Yesterday after the blowout we were really questioning ourselves,” Thunder coach Scott Edwards told the Endeavour. The Thunder (coached by Edwards) included Kayley Brooks, Nicole MacLeod, Stephanie Raush, Heather Harasymchuck, Rachel Vachon, Bonnie Hommy, Danielle Hopkins, Marta Pietucha, Melissa Black, Erin Slemp, Tanya Keith, Sasha Viau and Suzanne Campbell.
The Grant MacEwan Griffins defeated the SAIT Trojans 73-48; 70-79; 63-56 (2g-1). …………………………………………………… In game two, SAIT prevailed 79-70 as Kristy Haskell scored 19 and Susan Stefan 16. Coach Avery Harrison was pleased with Stefan’s effort despite ankle problems. “Even when she could hardly walk, Susan as still getting out there and being a great leader for us.” …………………………………………………… In game three, the Griffins took the deciding contest 63-56. The Trojans (coached by Avery Harrison, assisted by Ted Harrison and managed by Francis Sta. Maria and Angele Ducharme, student therapist Zoe McDermott) included Susan Stefan, Paige MacPherson, Mara Pratt, Kristy Haskell, Jen Campbell, Bobbi Bachynski, Tammy Dubinski, Krystal Fahie, Keisha Manywounds, Megan Leach, Chelsea Lukomski, Lisa Sarrasin and Cynthia Charlesworth.
In the last quarterfinal series, the Mount Royal Cougars defeated the Grande Prairie Wolves 69-32; 78-49 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game one, the Cougars pounded the Wolves 69-32. Wolves coach Joel Mueller told the Grande Prairie herald that “we played terribly. Whether it was a little bit of nerves, I don’t know. But we couldn’t hit a shot. We turned the ball over and played poorly. A lot of that was them taking us out of what we wanted to do.” …………………………………………………… In game two, Mount Royal completed the series sweep with a 78-49 win. Wolves coach Joel Mueller told the Grande Prairie Herald Tribune that “we competed hard and never gave up. It was one of those games where we were down 30 and they were pressing relentlessly. …. They’re really good. They’re a very good shooting team and their posts can shoot. If somebody comes off the bench, they’re just as good as the girl that started. They’re the deepest team in the league.” The Wolves (coached by Joel Mueller) included Krista Ciura, Jessica Schmidt, Janet Teichroeb, Stacy Billows, Amanda Weber, Jaclyn Hedges, Natasha Krukoff, Gillian Gook, Stephanie Steurernagal, Lorene Brennan, Loretta Lieverse and Janaia Hinchey.
In the Final Four semis, the host Lethbridge Kodiettes nipped the Grant MacEwan Griffins 68-66 on a Kathryn Bekkering putback with four seconds remaining on the clock. “We really wanted this game,” said Kodiaks coach Brad Karren. “But we maybe wanted it too much. We came out a little anxious and it showed.” Sabrina Shaw had tied the game with a free throw with a minute to play. “It’s the first time we’ve been tested in probably two months and I think that is what hurt us down the stretch,” said Karren. “But we kept our poise even though we missed some key shots down the stretch.” Lana Brown led the Kodiaks with 20. Kimberley Bridge added 11 and player of game Kathryn Bekkering 9. Kyla Mann paced the Griffins with 11.
In the other semi, the Mount Royal Cougars edged the Augustana Vikings 67-65 as all-star Lauren Wallace hit an off-balance jumper from just inside the arc with 14 seconds to play.
In the bronze medal match, the Grant MacEwan Griffins defeated the Augustana Vikings 75-69 as Lisa Francis scored 18 and Sabrina Shaw 17. Shelley Pozerniuk led the Vikings with 16. The Griffins led 41-34 at the half. “We played our best game of the season tonight,” Griffins coach Erhayal Ozcan said. “After a heartbreaking loss last night in a game we felt was stolen from us we had one of two choices on how to come out and play tonight. We could have sulked and cried and came out and lost another one but we showed the character we had played with all year and played aggressive and played like a champion.” The Vikings included Leanne Shenton, Shelly Pozerniuk, Pamela Reinke, Joy de la Paz, Paige Gaudreau, Miriam Mol, Jeanna Woodward, Kerbi McKnight, Joan Wheat, Alana Martinson, Sophia Thompson and Sarah Person.
In the final, the Mount Royal Cougars defeated the Lethbridge Kodiettes 69-60 as Sarah Howard scored 18, nabbed 9 boards and dished 3 assists, took 3 charges and notched several putback rebounds. “I saved my best for when it counted the most,” said Howard. “I didn’t do anything different from any other game this season. I approached it the same way. … It was just another game.” Cougars coach Donovan Martin said Howard is “capable of that kind of game. You could tell she really wanted it.” Robyn Middlestead added 16 points and Nadeane Jackson 1. Kimberly Bridge led the Kodiaks with 23. Lana Brown added 16. The Kodiaks, who led 37-28 at the half and by as many as 10 in the second half, but were scoreless for the final 2:17. “We got a little complacent in the second half and things didn’t quite go the way we needed them to go,” said Kodiaks coach Brad Karren. I guess they just played better defence. When you don’t have it you just don’t have it. But you’d think we’d get a call on our home court.” Howard tied the game at 60 with just over two minutes remaining by converting on a three-point play. A Middlestead trey, another bucket from Howard and a pair of free throws from Jackson iced it. “We wanted that trip to nationals real bad,” said Howard. “We didn’t want to rely on the chance of getting a wildcard. We came out and struggled in the first half. But we fought back and kept battling until the end.”
The bronze medalist Grant MacEwan Griffins: Anna Kirillo; Jill Hanson; Lisa Francis; Kyla Munn; Sabrina Shaw; Christy Debienne; Lauren Green; Megan Stevenson; Rebecca Turner; Ashley Nealon; Leanne Barret; Jennifer Tschritter; Morgan Page; Wallsten; coach Erhayal Ozcan
The silver medalist Lethbridge Kodiettes: Lana Brown; Kimberly Bridge; Kathryn Bekkering; Deana Dypolt; Jesse McMillan; Laura Campbell; Erin Hogan; Wendy McMurray; Karma Jo Kubic; Lindy Lauder; Lindsay Fricke; Tessa Parker; Nisha Nelson; Carolyn Cartwright
The gold medalist Mount Royal Cougars: Robyn Middlestead; Ashlee Guise; Lauren Wallace; Sarah Howard; Erin Jopp; Nadene Jackson; Andrea Mikus; Jamie Bell; Lisa Pederson; Gina Guimont; Krista McMillan; Amanda Arbuckle; Shauna Burry; Tamara Gehring;