Final regular season standings:
North (7): Concordia (22-2); Grant MacEwan (18-6); The King’s University College (14-10); Augustana (14-10); Grande Prairie (6-18); NAIT (5-19); Lakeland (5-19)
South (6): Mount Royal (18-2); Lethbridge (18-2); SAIT (10-10); Medicine Hat (9-11); Red Deer (5-15); Briercrest (0-20)
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Briercrest: Molly Thomas, Miriam Decock, Melissa Jennings, Courtnay Schaufele, Rhonda Simpson, Melissa Diesel, Erin Schaufele, Rebecca Dellman, Kristin Babe, Jenna Gatey, Alana Chute, Jaclyn Wolverton
Grande Prairie: Tannis Stevenson, Katie Burden, Jen Seemann, Melissa Duinker, Justine Lalonde, Loretta Lieverse, Amanda Weber, Melissa Walker, Colleen King, Ashleigh Ness, Leah MacNeil, Tiffanie Cox, Kim Moskalyk
Lakeland: Katherine Lafreniere, Thomi Olson, Brandi Rink, Brittynne Kroeker, Megan Ragush, Heather Tulloch, Natasha Nagy, Misty McMaster, Carrie Ryman, Veronica Nadeau, Julie Ragush, Jacquie Mussell, Katey Beach, Kelsey Rink
NAIT: Jodi Lorentz, Kriska Reyes, Michelle Yarham, Jenelle Kitzan, Lisa Francis, Holly Bredo, Jocelyn Sykes, Sarah Garner, Brie Burrows, Karen Watson
Red Deer: Caitlyn O’Bryne, Jessie Elias, Monica Lewing, Kailey Bastura, Jessica Guenther, Julie Wray, Danielle Fleming, Taylor Jacobson, Stephanie Morales, Kassie Pritchard, Allison Koch, Megan McDougall, Kristen Van Maarion
In the quarterfinals, Concordia d’d Medicine Hat 58-41; 64-46 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game one, the Thunder prevailed 58-41. “We had to pick up our pressure, one girl picked up the wrong check, we gave up a three and all of a sudden we had to full court press,” Rattlers coach Boris Grisonich told the Medicine Hat News. “We’re not very good
at full court press so we went down 17. It was a better game than the score shows, but still frustrating. We shot horribly and (missed) a lot of easy shots we need to make. We’re just playing a little bit tentative, scared instead of attacking.” Ashley Nealon led Concordia with 9. Katie Barrett added 8, Janet Ariss 6, Leanne Barrett 7, Kayley Brooks 6, Chelsey Day 5, Vanessa Fulton-Koops 0, Katherine Kibler 5, Cailin Lissel 5, Megan Stevenson 3 and Kayley Weisbrot 5. Rebecca Hartshorn paced Medicine Hat with 13. Nicole Hanna added 8, Cori Jones 5, Julia Krause 5, Paige Kurpjuweit 3, Jodi Leinweber 0, Kelsey Rowntree 2, Karen Smith 2, Claire Tomczyk 4, Jocelyn Wigmore 0 and Lindsay Woodward 0. …………………………………………………… In game two, Concordia completed the series sweep with a 64-46 win. “It’s been a battle with them, and we always lose,” Rattlers guard Claire Tomczyk told the Medicine Hat News. “Our program’s constantly improving. Hopefully we’ll face them again next year and win.” Lindsay Woodward noted that the Thunder shot 30 more free throws. “I think it would have been more emotional if it was a close game. “Once again, we were battling their team, battling officials. It’s the same old story. It would have been nice to end off and not have that foul taste of the reffing.” Becky Hartshorn noted that “we got shots off, but it seemed like the ball would not fall. They went on a few runs, and it seemed that once they got going, they kept it going.” Janet Ariss paced Concordia with 21, Ashley Nealon added 14, Katie Barrett 10, Leanne Barret 4, Kayley Brooks 8, Chelsey Day 2, Vanessa Fulton-Koops 0, Katherine Kibler 2, Cailin Lissel 0 and Kayley Weisbrot 0. Rebecca Hartshorn led Medicine Hat with 21. Cori Jones added 15, along with 11 boards, Nicole Hanna 4, Julia Krause 0, Jodi Leinweber 0, Kelsey Rowntree 4, Karen Smith 0, Claire Tomczyk 2, Jocelyn Wigmore 0 and Lindsay Woodward 2. The Rattlers also included Christal Freitag, Paige Kurpjuweit and Jessica Schmidt.
Mount Royal defeated Augustana 66-52; 81-49 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game one, Allison Masterson paced Mount Royal with 16. Brittany Patterson added 10, Alicia Wilson 8, Michelle Anderson 7, Jessica Gill 7, Danielle Vogt 5, Kristy Dykshoorn 5, Paige Bowman 3, Ashley Hilton 5, Kahle Erichsen 2, Jessica Mercier 0 and Nadeane Jackson 0. Heidi Marcinkoski led Augustana with 12. Jessi Hameister-Reis added 12, Alana Martinson 9, Katie Deuchar 9, Jessica Binder 7, Krista Joudrey 5, Karla Binder 0, Megan Hogendoorn 0, Erin Mercier 0 and Meghan Martyna 0. The Cougars leading by a mere 33-28 at the half, Allison Masterson hit a field goal and two free throws, Ashley Hilton notched two free throws and Michelle Anderson a free throw as they opened the second half with a 7-0 run. “We started at 0-0 kind of, to get those points right away,” said Masterson. “We wanted to make sure we didn’t lose that lead and it was good momentum for us.” Danielle Vogt soon added a trey to put the Cougars ahead 43-30 and they pulled away down the stretch. Brittany Paterson said team defence proved the difference. “We came out pretty cold but we rely on our defence in those situations. Eventually, we come back.” …………………………………………………… In game two, Nadeane Jackson led Mount Royal with 15. The Vikings included Alana Martinson, Karla Binder, Megan Hogendoorn, Erin Mercier, Jamie Sparrow, Jessica Binder, Katie Deuchar, Krista Joudrey, Heidi Marcinkoski, Meghan Martyna, Andrea Martinson, Jessie Hameister-Reis and Genna Flinkman.
SAIT d’d Grant MacEwan 79-54; 65-59 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game one, Jaclyn Krucik and Leanne Becking scored 22 points apiece to pace SAIT. Deanna MacRae added 11, Kassandra Baptiste 8, Brittany Burley 0, Meghan Donahue 8, Talia Galbraith 8, Riki-Lyn Hutchins 0, Whitney Jekabson 0, Meaghan Martin 0, Duby Siu 0 and Natalie Svarich 0. Ashlee Pigford paced MacEwan with 12. Natasha Varma added 9, Mickenzie Czech 8, Brandy Brown 2, Caileen DePaoli 2, Andrea Lasby 0, Danielle Leclair 2, Cassie Penner 2, Shavaun Reaney 7, Kristen Redhead 0, Mallorie Sherman 4 and Claire Wilson 6. …………………………………………………… In game two, Talia Galbraith paced SAIT with 24. Leanne Becking added 13, Whitney Jekabson 10, Jaclyn Krucik 8, Natalie Svarich 7, Meghan Donahue 2, Deanna MacRae 0, Kassandra Baptiste 2, Jessica Gough 0 and Riki-Lyn Hutchins 0. Galbraith started nervously, throwing away several balls but coach Avery Harrison counseled her to “calm down.” She soon accomplished the task and took command. “Oh, I heard him,” Galbraith said. “I think I just had the jitters, which I usually get, but this game especially.” SAIT trailed 26-22 at the half but quickly rallied to knot the score at 28 early in the second half and then Galbraith took over the game. Claire Wilson led MacEwan with 12. Ashlee Pigford added 11, Cassie Penner 7, Mallorie Sherman 7, Shavaun Reaney 6, Mickenzie Czech 3, Caileen DePaoli 1, Danielle Leclair 5, Brandy Brown 0, Kristen Redhead 0 and Natasha Varma 6. The Griffins also included Andrea Lasby, Sara Neumann and Jasmine Holowaychuk.
In the last quarterfinal series, Lethbridge CC d’d The King’s University College Eagles 81-64; 67-50 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game one, Beth Anderson paced Lethbridge with 24, Laura Campbell added 15, Nikkina Weasel Head 11, Janene Hooper 8, Nadine Adams 5, Krishia Cousin 5, Tara Griffith 5, Kristen Hill 3, Rachel Johnson 0, Savannah Magnussen 0, Claire Nesbitt 2 and Mac Vander Woude 4. Themis Laffitte paced King’s University College with 21. Irene Tang added 11, Maia de Klerk 10, Hilary Smith 8, Stacey Sperling 6, Romney Drummond 5, Danielle Frost 3, Sara Johansen 0 and Kristen McCarroll 0. …………………………………………………… In game two, Beth Anderson led Lethbridge with 13. Nadine Adams added 11, Laura Campbell 10, Janene Hooper 10, Savannah Magnussen 9, Claire Nesbitt 7, Krishia Cousin 2, Kristen Hill 0, Rachel Johnson 0, Mac Vander Woude 4 and Nikkina Weasel Head 2. Stacey Sperling paced King’s with 14. Maia de Klerk added 8, Danielle Frost 8, Irene Tang 6, Hilary Smith 6, Julia Devos 1, Romney Drummond 0, Sara Johansen 0, Themis Laffitte 5 and Kristen McCarroll 3. The Eagles also included Jennifer Herren, Katie McFall, Anna Hastey and Hilary Smith.
In the Final Four semis, Mount Royal dumped SAIT 62-47.
In the other semi, Concordia edged the Lethbridge Kodiaks 68-60.
In the bronze medal match, SAIT nipped Lethbridge CC 75-72. “I was disappointed,” Kodiaks coach Brad Karren told The Endeavor. “Even though we’re host team, many people feel we were good enough to be there. … Sports is a mental thing, when you know you are going to nationals no matter how you play, it’s hard to put the pressure on.” Kodiak Kirshia Cousins said the team was less than intense because “we always knew in the back of our heads that even if we lose, we are still in it.” The Kodiaks (coached by Brad Karren, assisted by Kim Woolf and Mickey Folson) included Savannah Magnussen, Beth Anderson, Tara Griffith, Mackenzie Vander Woude, Krishia Cousin, Nadine Adams, Leah Nelner, Laura Campbell, Kristien Hill, Claire Nesbitt, Janene Hooper, Chelsea Kungel and Nikkina Weasel Head.
In the final, the Mount Royal Cougars crushed the Concordia University College of Alberta Thunder 63-47. “It was our defence,” said Cougars coach Donovan Martin. “How many points did they have at half-time, 17? That’s a lot below their average. … I told my players before the game they had to have courage and faith. Faith in each other and their ability to perform and courage to go all out, not be tentative.” Mount Royal took an early eight point on the post play of Michelle Anderson and the perimeter shooting of Nadeane Jackson, who drilled a pair of treys. Concordia was stone cold from the perimeter and the Cougars packed the paint to keep them outside. They rallied to within 17-15 before Mount Royal took command and strode to a 31-17 lead at the half. Concordia cut the margin early in the second half as Megan Stevenson caught fire but they couldn’t sustain the push and Mount Royal closed it out with excellent defence by Jessica Gill, Danielle Vogt and Paige Bowman. “We slowed them down with our defence,” said Martin. “And I think we have a pretty fast team and we kept pushing hard up the floor. We weren’t tentative at all.”
The bronze medalist SAIT Trojans: Jaclyn Krucik; Leanne Becking; Deanna MacRae; Kassandra Baptiste; Brittany Burley; Meghan Donahue; Talia Galbraith; Riki-Lyn Hutchins; Whitney Jekabson; Meaghan Martin; Duby Siu; Natalie Svarich; Jessica Gough; coach Avery Harrison; assistant Laurel Closkey; assistant Wendy Closky; therapist Rachel Pushie;
The silver medalist Concordia University College of Alberta Thunder: Ashley Nealon; Katie Barrett; Janet Ariss; Leanne Barrett; Kayley Brooks; Chelsey Day; Vanessa Fulton-Koops; Katherine Kibler; Cailin Lissel; Megan Stevenson; Kayley Weisbrot; Ashley Bladon; Macey Brown; Leanne Finnson; coach Scott Edwards
The gold medalist Mount Royal Cougars: Allison Masterson; Brittany Patterson; Alicia Wilson; Michelle Anderson; Jessica Gill; Danielle Vogt; Kristy Dykshoorn; Paige Bowman; Ashley Hilton; Kahle Erichsen; Jessica Mercier; Nadeane Jackson; Marin McCue; coach Donovan Martin; assistant Robyn Middlestead; assistant Fabio Marcucci; assistant Colette Anderes; trainer Joan Robertson