Final regular season standings (8): St. Thomas (21-0); Mount St. Vincent (16-5); King’s (14-7); Holland (11-10); Mount Allison (9-12); New Brunswick-Saint John (9-12); Crandall (3-18); Dalhousie Agricultural (0-21)
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Crandall University Chargers: Elizabeth Boutilier, Jordan Caissie, Sarah Foram, Jacqueline Grondin, Jillian Guptill, Alyssa Harrington, Lindsay Keirstead, Megan Plummer, Angela Richard, Jillian Robichaud, Marlon Smith, Kerri Trecartin, coach Darrick Hebert, assistant Kara Cawthra
Dalhousie Agricultural College Rams: Jessica Stickney, Hillary Hopper, Jessica Leck, Emily Estabrooks, Emily Crouse, Rebecca Parra, Emily Davis, Lauren Marsh, Alana Ransome, Theresa Rankin, coach Parker Regan
In the quarterfinals, the 5th-seeded Mount Allison Mounties dumped the 4th-seeded Holland Hurricanes 68-61. Mount Allison broke to a 4-0 lead two minutes into the quarter. Holland managed to come back, but Holland still maintains a four-point lead at 5-9, five minutes into the quarter. The score was knotted 9 before Holland rallied with a 9-4 run to take an 18-13 lead after one quarter. The Mountie trimmed the margin to one before the Hurricanes regained a 29-25 lead at the half. Holland built its lead to 11 in the second half but the Mounties shifted to a full-court press to trim the margin to 49-41 after three quarters. They took a 50-49 lead by hitting a trio from beyond the arc but Holland regrouped and rebuilt a four-point lead. The Mounties tied it at 57 with two minutes to play and then pulled away down the stretch. Mackenzie Gray paced the Mounties with 25. Kayla Robichaud earned player of the game for Mount Allison after 19 and dishing 6 assists. Steph Hiltz earned the laurels for the Hurricanes while scoring 13. Robichaud said “I can’t even explain how we feel right now. We were down the whole game but we never gave up and we came together when it counted. We had a talk in there (at halftime). We said what we needed to do. We focused on the offence we needed and we focused on the defence we needed and it worked. … We showed our coaches that we can play.” The Hurricanes (coached by Mike Connolly, assisted by Chris Connolly and Jenna Connolly) included Marissa Penney, Lindsay Shupe, Lisa Edwards, Megan Spicer, Emalee Wakelin, Katie Downey, Jennifer Hinds, Brittany MacLean, Christina Medley, Aimee Gillis and Shaelyn Graham.
In the other quarterfinal, the 3rd-seeded University of King’s College Blue Devils edged the 6th-seeded University of New Brunswick-St. John Seawolves 78-74. The Blue Devils survived a late 21-2 run from the Seawolves to hang on for the win. “We have some history as crosstown rivals,” said Kings head coach Jenn Bennett. “They’re a great team and I have a lot of respect for them.” The two teams exchanged leads throughout the game, before Kings gained a 20-point lead late in the third quarter. King’s led 24-13 after one quarter and 39-27 at the half. Sarah MacDonald was named player of the game for Kings after scoring 23 and nabbing 9 boards. “I thought we moved the ball really well,” she said. “It was tough to blow a 20-point lead, but a win is a win.” Rachel Jefferson picked up the player of the game for the Seawolves with 22 points and three rebounds. “We haven’t quit all year,” said Seawolves head coach Kevin Munroe. “They played hard and a couple fouls our way it would’ve been a different ball game.” The Seawolves hit 13-26 from the line. “We went smaller and quicker in the second half,” said Munroe. “We upped our pressure on Kings and it seemed to work for us.” The Seawolves (coached by Kevin Munroe) also included Leanne Davis, Brittany Mallory, Christie Smith, Madison Peters, Jennifer Bergeron, Emily Dowling, Monica Newman, Heather Cusack, Madelyn Stewart and Laura Simonds.
In the semis, the top-seeded St. Thomas Tommies stomped the 5th-seeded Mount Allison Mounties 94-47. The Tommies trailed 7-4 early but responded with a 22-0 run, including 10 from second-year guard Danielle LeBlanc, who was later chosen player of the game for St. Thomas. “We’re so happy to head to the ACAA final,” she said. “We worked so hard on the floor and everybody put it all on the line.” Tommies coach Fred Connors said “their legs bottomed out and we just kept coming at them with everything we had. We really just wanted to be close at halftime because we knew we could wear them down in the second half.” The Tommies led 30-13 in the first quarter and 49-25 at half-time. They led by as many as 45. “Fred has a great team,” said Mounties coach Al Hart. “It’s tough to lose, but I can’t see anybody beating them in this tournament.” Carissa McTague paced the Tommies with 15 points on 6-10 from the floor, 2-3 from the arc, 1-1 from the line and 9 boards. Danielle LeBlanc added 12 on 5-6 from the floor, 2-2 from the arc, 3 boards and 2 steals. Ashley Bawn added 11 on 4-6 from the floor, 0-1 from the arc, 3-4 from the line, 4 boards and 3 steals. Renee LeBlanc scored 11 on 5-7 from the floor, 1-3 from the arc, 0-1 from the line, 6 boards and 2 steals. Kelly Vass notched 11 on 2-9 from the floor, 0-2 from the arc, 7-8 from the line, 4 boards, 5 assists and 3 steals. Kathleen McCann added 8 on 3-9 from the floor, 2-2 from the line, 12 boards and 3 assists. Hilary Goodine added 6 on 2-10 from the floor, 2-3 from the line and 7 boards. Hannah MacDonald added 4, along with 4 boards and 3 assists, Olivia Dobblestyn 5, along with 3 boards and 3 steals, and Samantha Wilson 2, along with 2 assists, while Erin Kelly was scoreless. The Tommies hit 33-83 (.398) from the floor, 8-26 (.308) from the arc and 20-29 (.690) from the line, while garnering 60 boards, including 26 on the offensive glass, 21 assists, 11 turnovers, 14 steals and 19 fouls. The Mounties hit 17-65 (.262) from the floor, 3-21 (.143) from the arc and 10-18 from the line, while garnering 28 boards, including 10 on the offensive glass, 6 assists, 24 turnovers, 5 steals and 15 fouls. The Mounties (coached by Al Hart, assisted by Jay Mingrone and Doug Hart) included Samantha Frenette, Chelsea Putnam, Maddyson McDonald, Kayla Robichaud, Sara Mackellar, Taylor-Rae Côté, Allison Turcotte, Ainslie Oland, Katie Lund, Leigh Manley, Mackenzie Gray, Hannah Stegen, MacKenzie McHatten, Danielle Broome and Madison Swan.
In the other semi, the 2nd-seeded Mount St. Vincent Mystics nipped the 3rd-seeded University of King’s College Blue Devils 65-60. The squads started slowly but the Blue Devils built a 9-6 lead midway through the first quarter. But the Mystics countered with a 6-0 run and built a 16-13 lead at the end of the frame. They quickly added a trey and a layup and soon had their lead at double digits, extending it to 33-19 at the half. King’s rallied with 9 but the Mystics soon took total command, leading 49-33 after three quarters and by as many as 19 in the final frame. Christina O’Brien and Breanna Buls each scored 15 to pace the Mystics. Chelsey MacKay added 11 and nabbed 5 boards while being named player of the game for Mount St. Vincent. Madisen Jennex earned the laurels for the Blue Devils with 7 points and 4 boards. MacKay called a tough game. “We came into this game knowing that we needed to take care of business today and not worry about tomorrow. We played as one and managed to come out with the win. We respect that team. That team never gives up. I thought they played well and gave us a run for our money.” The Blue Devils (coached by Jenn Bennett, assisted by Leslie Duncan and George Hughes) included Kyla MacRae, Katie Locke, Sarah MacDonald, Beatrice Cleveland-Thomson, Allie Darwin, Krysten Mannett, Bhreagh Moore, Carla Norrad, Wendy Margetts, Lesley Doane, Kelsey Young, Krista Mooney, RS Kyiaisha Benton, RS Rebecca Evans and RS Catherine Butts.
In the final,
the top-seeded St. Thomas Tommies whipped the 2nd-seeded Mount St.
Vincent Mystics 73-40 to capture their third consecutive crown and stretch
their three-year winning streak against ACAA competition to 77. “It gave us a
lot of pressure going into the ACAA championship at 21-0,” said Sam Wilson. “We
stuck together and played as a team and had unreal defence, so I’m really proud
of my girls.” The Tommies broke open the game early with a 19-3 run, including a
pair of treys from Wilson. “We had a good first half, but the first few minutes
of the second half was a bit of a rough spot,” said Wilson. “We always have a
woe, but we stick together and then we come back with the momentum.” The Tommies
led 15-8 after one quarter and 45-19 at the half, while badly out-rebounding
the Tommies. “We’ve had some good games with them this year,” said Mystics
coach Mark Forward. “We’ve played with them nine out of 12 quarters and we’ve
always struggled in the second quarter and it was the same result today.”
Although ACAA player of the year Ashley Bawn struggled, others stepped up. “That’s
why we’re so good,” she said. “Any person on our team at any given day can be
the leading scorer and were just so deep, that’s why were so good because we’re
tough to stop.” Fourth-year post Kathleen McCann said “it’s amazing to win on
home court. It’s been a dream of mine since I’ve picked up a basketball in the
second grade to win a championship on a home court, in a home gym, with a home
crowd and I saw that happen today with the best group of girls there could be
and I’m feeling incredibly blessed to be a part of this team.” Samantha Wilson
paced the Tommies with 14 on 3-9 from the floor, 2-5 from the arc, 6-8 from the
line, 6 boards, 2 assists and 2 steals. Kelly Vass added 13 on 6-19 from the floor,
0-4 from the arc, 1-4 from the line, 4 boards, 6 assists and 5 steals. Hilary
Goodine scored 8 on 4-11 from the floor and 8 boards. Renee LeBlanc added 8 on
3-9 from the floor, 2-7 from the arc and 4 boards. Danielle LeBlanc scored 8 on
2-10 from the floor, 1-3 from the arc, 3-4 from the line and 4 boards. L
Anderson added 5, along with 3 boards, 3 assists and 3 steals, Erin Kelly 4,
along with 2 boards, Ashley Bawn 3, along with 6 boards, 2 assists and 3 steals,
and K McCann 2, along with 9 boards, while Olivia Dobblestyn and H MacDonald
were scoreless. The Tommies hit 26-82 (.317) from the floor, 8-28 (.286) from
the arc and 13-24 (.542) from the line, while garnering 51 boards, including 17
on the offensive glass, 16 assists, 20 turnovers, 15 steals and 22 fouls. Mount
St. Vincent hit 15-57 (.263) from the floor, 2-21 (.095) from the arc and 8-20
(.400) from the line, while garnering 29 boards, including 9 on the offensive
glass, 7 assists, 27 turnovers, 1 block, 9 steals and 23 fouls.
The silver medalist Mount St.
Vincent Mystics: Taryn Oakley; Chelsea Mackay; Emma Reardon; Maddy Hiscock; Breanna
Buis; Christina Brien; Shontaya Williams; Marika Williams; Kalli MacDonald; Che’Kara
Beals; Kandace Hewlett; Kara Hayes; Taylor MacDonald; coach Mark Forward;
assistant Elaine Horne; assistant Sarah Rudderham; assistant Kenny Reardon;
assistant Bryan Fader
The gold medalist St. Thomas Tommies: Olivia Dobblestyn; Laura Anderson; Ashley Bawn; Kelly Vass; Hannah MacDonald; Hilary Goodine; Samantha Wilson; Danielle LeBlanc; Kathleen McCann; Renee LeBlanc; Carissa McTague; Erin Kelly; coach Fred Connors; assistant Peter Douthwright; assistant Kristin O’Rourke; trainer Zach Pavlovic; athletic director Mike Eagles