Charlee Connors of St. Thomas was chosen CCAA player of the year. The 5-9 fourth-year post and arts major from Woodstock, N.B., was the ACAC player of the year. “Charlee is the ultimate student-athlete. She excels on the court, in the classroom, and in the community. She is exactly the type of person we want representing St. Thomas University and the CCAA,” said St. Thomas athletic director Meaghan Donahue Wies. She started 15 of the 16 ACAC games she played for an average 23.3 mpg. She hit 75-172 (.436) from the floor, 14-44 (.318) from the arc and 68-83 (.819) from the line, while garnering 127 boards, including 63 on the offensive glass and a 7.9 rpg, 43 fouls (fouling out twice), 32 assists, 35 turnovers, a 0.9 asst/to ratio, 23 steals and 232 points, for a 14.5 ppg.
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology’s Kiera Lyons was named recipient of the CCAA national coach of the year award. The fourth-year coach led the Ooks to a 17-3 record in the ACAC north division standings. She was the ACAC north division coach of the year. “Kiera’s hard work and determination have resulted in getting the NAIT women’s basketball team back to the top of the ACAC standings,” said NAIT athletic director Alexandra Galenza. “She expects a lot out of her players and is able to get their best effort every game. NAIT Athletics would like to congratulate Kiera on this special award.” The other nominees were Tony Bryce (Vancouver Island); Caleb Hugh (Loyalist); Yves-Robert Casimir (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu); and Fred Connors (St. Thomas)
Joining Connors as All-Canadians (all were first-team conference all-stars were: Laurent Clements (Douglas); Maddy Coffin (Capilano); Chloe Sutherland Deklerk (Concordia U-Edmonton); Kendal Russell (St. Mary’s); Aneilia Ayotte (The King’s University); Maddie Anderson (Mohawk); Grace Callahan (Loyalist); Ashlyn Anderson (Fanshawe); Mobokoli Angelina Mbengo (Vanier); Deborah Damoah (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu); and Victoria Strickland (Mount St. Vincent). …………………………………………………… Clements, a 5-9 third-year guard and physical education/coaching major from Port Coquitlam, B.C. (Terry Fox Secondary) was the Pac West defensive player of the year for the second consecutive season. She started 21 of the 23 Pac West regular season games she played, for an average 24.1 mpg. She hit 114-298 (.383 from the floor, 4-45 (.089) from the arc and 63-89 (.708) from the line, while garnering 143 boards, including 35 on the offensive glass and a 6.2 rpg, 56 fouls (fouling out twice) 66 assists, 65 turnovers, a 1.0 asst/to ratio, 7 blocks, 80 steals and 295 points, for a 12.8 ppg. …………………………………………………… Coffin, a 5-11 fifth-year forward and communications major from North Vancouver, B.C. (Seycove) was the Pac West player of the year. She started all 22 Pac West regular season games she played, for an average 31.7 mpg. She hit 126-326 (.387) from the floor, 24-92 (.261) from the arc and 100-129 (.775) from the line, while garnering 142 boards, including 63 on the offensive glass and a 6.5 rpg, 61 fouls (fouling out once), 14 assists, 45 turnovers, a 0.3 asst/to ratio, 10 blocks, 12 steals and 376 points, for a 17.1 ppg. …………………………………………………… Sutherland Deklerk, a 5-7 third-year guard and science major from Millet, Alta. (Pigeon Lake High) was the ACAC north division player of the year and defensive player of the year She led the league in scoring and steals. She started all 19 ACAC regular season games she played, for an average 32.5 mpg. She hit 155-333 (.465) from the floor, 29-86 (.337) from the arc and 78-92 (.848) from the line, while garnering 113 boards, including 47 on the offensive glass and a 5.9 rpg, 42 fouls, 83 assists, 60 turnovers, a 1.4 asst/to ratio, 12 blocks, 105 steals and 417 points, for a 21.9 pgg. …………………………………………………… Russell, a 5-6 fifth-year guard and psychology major from Strathmore, Alta. (Chestermere High), was the ACAC south division player of the year. “Kendall is one of the most competitive and passionate athletes I have ever coached,” said Lightning coach Abdell Farag. “She balances playing with a chip on her shoulder and a childlike joy for the game. Her work ethic, intensity, and love for competition set the tone for our program every day.” She started all 21 ACAC regular season games, playing an average 31.1 mpg. She hit 145-407 (.356) from the floor, 49-205 (.239) from the arc and 41-46 (.891) from the line, while garnering 64 boaards, including 23 on the offensive glass and 3.0 rpg, 64 fouls (fouling out once), 46 assists, 69 turnovers, a 0.7 asst/to ratio, 3 blocks, 75 steals and 380 points, for an 18.1 ppg. …………………………………………………… Ayotte, a 6-1 fifth-year forward and environmental science major from St. Albert, Alta. (Bellrose Comp), started all 20 ACAC regular season games, playing an average 25.3 mpg. She hit 135-242 (.558) from the floor, 1-4 from the arc and 80-123 (.650) from the line, while garnering 140 boards, including 68 on the offensive glass and a 7.0 rpg, 44 fouls, 39 assists, 36 turnovers, a 1.1 asst/to ratio, 8 blocks, 28 steals and 351 points, for a 17.6 ppg. …………………………………………………… Maddie Anderson, a 5-9 fifth-year guard and massage therapy major from Whitby, Ont. (J. Addison High) was the OCAA player of the year. She started 12 of the 14 OCAA regular season games she played, for an average 28.4 mpg. She hit 77-201 (.383) from the floor, 34-103 (.330) from the arc and 50-62 (.806) from the line, while garnering 101 boards, including 47 on the offensive glass and a 7.2 rpg, 41 fouls (fouling out twice), 53 assists, 28 turnovers, a 1.9 asst/to ratio, 8 blocks, 34 steals and 238 points, for a 17.0 ppg. …………………………………………………… Callahan, a 5-7 wing and fitness & health promotion major from Corbyville, Ont. (St. Theresa Catholic) was the OCAA east division player of the year and defensive player of the year. She started all 13 OCAA regular season games she played, for an average 26.8 mpg. She hit 79-189 (.418) from the floor, 14-50 (.280) from the arc and 31-52 (.596) from the line, while garnering 94 boards, including 29 on the offensive glass and a 7.2 rpg, 35 fouls, 50 assists, 30 turnovers, a 1.7 asst/to ratio, 6 blocks, 56 steals and 203 points, for a 15.6 ppg. …………………………………………………… Ashlyn Anderson, a 6-3 second-year post and business marketing major from Latchford, Ont. was the OCAA West division defensive player of the year. She started all 16 OCAA regular season games, playing an average 27.0 mpg. She hit 100-177 (.565) from the floor, 1-1 from the arc and 54-89 (.607) from the line, while garnering 214 boards, including 76 on the offensive glass and a 13. 4rpg, 28 fouls, 26 assists, 32 turnovers, a 0.8 asst/to ratio, 49 blocks, 38 steals and 255 points, for a 15.9 ppg. …………………………………………………… Mbengo, a 5-6 third-year guard and social sciences major from Montreal, Que., was the RSEQ player of the year. She started 10 of 14 RSEQ regular season games, for an average 28.6 mpg. She hit 86-186 (.462) from the floor, 18-54 from the arc and 63-86 (.733) from the line, while garnering 67 boards, including 19 on the offensive glass and a 4.8 rpg, 27 fouls, 51 assists, 47 turnovers, 11 blocks, 32 steals and 253 points, for an 18.1 ppg. …………………………………………………… Damoah, a 5-3 third-year guard and social sciences major, from Montreal, Que., was the RSEQ defensive player of the year. She started 11 of the 14 RSEQ regular season games she played, for an average 32.4 mpg. She hit 56-149 (.376) from the floor, 4-30 (.133) from the arc and 52-65 (.800) from the line, while garnering 82 boards, including 27 on the offensive glass and a 5.9 rpg, 29 fouls (fouling out once), 52 assists, 34 turnovers, 4 blocks, 48 steals and 168 points, for a 12.0 ppg. …………………………………………………… Strickland, a 5-9 fifth-year forward and biology & psychology major from St. John’s, Nfld. (Gonzaga High) started all 17 ACAA regular season games she played, for an average 26.5 mpg. She hit 80-203 (.394) from the floor, 32-109 (.294) from the arc and 33-44 (.750) from the line, while garnering 65 boards, including 8 on the offensive glass and a 3.8 rpg, 58 fouls (fouling out three times), 65 assists, 58 turnovers, a 1.1 asst/to ratio, 3 blocks, 22 steals and 225 points, for a 13.2 ppg.