Saint Mary’s guard Justine Colley is named recipient of the Copp Award. Colley was named to the first all-Canadian squad for the first time in her career, after receiving a second-team nod a year ago and earning a spot on the CIS all-rookie unit back in 2009-10. She has been selected a first-team AUS all-star each of her four campaigns with the Huskies. The 5-9 guard captured her third straight CIS scoring crown after averaging 28.2 ppg, almost eight points per contest better than her closest rival (20.5). With her CIS-leading 565 total points in 20 league matches, she established a new AUS single-season mark. She recorded five double-doubles and scored 30 or more points in 11 of 20 games to lead Saint Mary’s to first place in the AUS standings with an 18-2 record. The commerce students also led the country in steals (3.9 per game), was tops in the AUS in assists (4.2) and ranked seventh in the Atlantic conference in rebounding (7.5). Her total steals (78), field goals (194) and free throws made (141) all rank first in the nation. In four university seasons, Colley set a new Saint Mary’s school record for career points scored with 1,961, which ranks third on the AUS all-time list. “Justine has had a tremendous, record-breaking season for the Huskies,” said coach Scott Munro. “Scoring is only part of the package however, as she has an impact on the game every time she plays, in so many other areas. She was among the league leaders in rebounding and field goal percentage, while leading the league in both steals and assists. Justine has great work ethic every single day at practice and is always focused on trying to get better, which has helped her get to this level. She has certainly raised the bar this season and is a very worthy recipient of this year’s most valuable player award.”
Fifth-year Saint Mary’s coach Scott Munro was named recipient of the Peter Ennis Award as national coach of the year after guiding the Huskies to a first-place finish with an 18-2 regular season record, including a 16-game winning streak to open the season. The Huskies led the conference in scoring (76.5 points per game) while allowing a league-low 63.7 points against. The 18-game win total was the most ever in the history of the Saint Mary’s women’s basketball program. Munro is a NCCP level three certified coach and has led the Nova Scotia provincial team nine times on both the men’s and women’s side as head coach. He was the head coach for Nova Scotia in the 2005 Canada Summer games, leading Nova Scotia to its first medal in 29 years and also led Nova Scotia’s entry in the 2009 Games in Charlottetown PEI. “Scott has a history of producing winners and this year is another example of his ability to bring the best out in his players on the court each game,” said Dr. David Murphy, director of athletics at Saint Mary’s. “He understands the importance of academics and the balance of being the best student-athlete. Saint Mary’s is extremely proud of his achievements.” The other finalists for the Peter Ennis Award were Concordia’s Keith Pruden, Ottawa’s Andy Sparks and Calgary’s Damian Jennings.
McGill forward Mariam Sylla was named recipient of the Kathy Shields award as national rookie of the year. The 6-1 native of Conakry, Guinea, was named RSEQ rookie of the year and earned all-conference first-team honours in her university debut. The 20-year-old pharmacology freshman was third among the league’s scoring leaders and second in rebounding, averaging 14.6 points (third in the league) and 9.8 rebounds per game (2nd in the league), respectively. She ranked fifth in field-goal shooting (39.6 %), seventh in free-throw shooting (71.7 %), second in blocked shots (17 in 16 games, second in the league), first in offensive rebounds (4.4 rpg), and second in defensive rebounds (5.4 rpg). “Mariam brings great raw athleticism and toughness to our team,” said McGill coach Ryan Thorne. “She is a great competitor who will sacrifice her body for the ball, which makes her a force on the boards. Her ability to knock down the 15-footer, makes her a threat both inside and out, which I believe has contributed largely to our team’s success this season.” She also had nine double-doubles.
Windsor guard Miah-Marie Langlois was the repeat recipient of the defensive player of the year award. The Windsor, Ontario native and fourth year point guard helped lead the Lancers to an undefeated season and a No. 1 national ranking in the CIS. As the OUA’s defensive player of the year for the second year running, Langlois had a league high 3.2 steals per game and 6.3 rebounds per outing while being responsible for defending the opponents’ top guard. Windsor finished the regular season with a tremendous 21-0 record, a first-place finish in the OUA West division for the fifth consecutive year, and their fourth OUA Championship in five seasons. She averaged 12.0 ppg and finished second in the CIS and first in the OUA with 6.0 assists per game. She was also named a CIS first team all-Canadian for the second consecutive season, and her third straight year as an OUA west division all-star after being named to the first team last year, and the second team in 2010-11. “It’s a privilege for our entire Windsor Lancer family to have Miah receive this honour again,” said Windsor coach Chantal Vallée. “She certainly is a force at both ends of the floors and she always responds with eagerness to get the job done, from stopping the opponent’s best player to running the team at the point. Her defensive stats in the CIS speak for themselves and I believe her play this year was a big factor in our team’s overall success.” The other nominees for defensive-MVP honours were Memorial post Ally Forsey, Laval post Marie-Pascale Nadeau and Calgary guard Tamara Jarrett.
Joining Colley on the All-Canadian 1st team were: Kaylah Barrett (Concordia); Kris Young (U.B.C.); Nicole Rosenkranz (Brock); and Diane Scheutze (Thompson Rivers). …………………………………………………… Barrett, a third-year guard from Brampton studying independent studies, was chosen player of the year in the Quebec conference for the second consecutive season. She also repeated as a first-team All-Canadian. She finished second in the league in scoring with 15.2 ppg, hitting .800 from the line, again the second highest total in the league. She hit 19-61 (.310) from the arc and led the league in steals with 36. …………………………………………………… Young, a third-year guard from North Vancouver studying arts, was chosen player of the year in Canada West. Young was sixth in league scoring with an average of 16.9 ppg, sixth in assists with 3.5 a game, and ninth in rebounding, while nabbing 7.5 rpg. “We are thrilled that Kris bought her character and exceptional abilities to UBC. She was a contributor from the moment she arrived on campus but in just her third year in the CIS, Kris has stepped up to an elite level and has become an undeniable leader on and off the court for the Thunderbirds,” said UBC coach Deb Huband. “Kris has the ability to elevate her game in relation to the stakes and she can be relied on for her leadership, determination and positive attitude. She leads by example every day in practice but also displays the courage and confidence to demand the best from her teammates.” …………………………………………………… Rosenkranz, a third-year forward from St. Catharines in general studies, was chosen player of the year in the OUA. The 6-1 forward averaged 16.1 ppg for the Badgers, who finished the season 18-3 and in second place in the west. She also averaged 9.5 rpg (second in the league) and led the conference in defensive boards with 155. She also finished tied for second in the OUA in blocks, at 1.5 per game and in double-doubles with nine. She was also named a first team all-star for the second consecutive season. …………………………………………………… Scheutze, a fifth-year post from Vernon studying tourism, stepped up from second-team All-Canadian status a year earlier.
The All-Canadian 2nd team featured Jessica Clemencon (Windsor); Alyson Bush (Carleton); Michelle Clark (Regina); Jenny Vaughan (Western); and Lindsay Harris (Acadia). …………………………………………………… Clemencon, a fourth-year post from St. Rambert France studying English, as the Copp Award winner in 10-11. The two-time OUA player of the year was a first team all-star for the fourth consecutive campaign. She finished second in the league scoring race with 17.8 ppg. The 6-3 forward also shot .570 from the floor, while nabbing 7.3 rpg. …………………………………………………… Bush, a fifth-year point guard from Ottawa studying communications, was the OUA East player of the year after averaging 14.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 3.6 apg. She led the Ravens to a 15-5 regular season record and a second-place finish. She was selected an OUA all-star for the fourth time, garnering first team nods in 2011-12 and 2009-10 and second team honours in 2010-11. She was also the league’s defensive player of the year, while notching 2.55 steals per game; third in the OUA East. Bush is also the east division recipient of the Joy Bellinger award, given to the female basketball student-athlete who demonstrates outstanding service to the sport and to the advancement of university athletics. Bush organized team outings to Camp Merrywood, working with children with physical disabilities and has donated her time to after-school programs run by the City of Ottawa. …………………………………………………… Clark, a fourth-year guard from Westlake Village, California. …………………………………………………… Vaughan, a fourth-year guard from Dundas studying kinesiology, led the OUA in scoring with 19.6 ppg. She averaged nearly 35 minutes per game, shot 45 percent from the floor and added 2.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds per contest and was a repeat first-team OUA all-star. She was also a second team selection in 2010-11. …………………………………………………… Harris, a fourth-year guard from New Minas, N.S., studying nutrition sciences, averaged 16.2 ppg, finishing seventh in AUS scoring. She also finished fifth in rebounding with 7.9 rpg, sixth in field-goal percentage (.445) and was a first team all-star. “Occasionally we are privileged to be involved with unusually distinguished individuals, young people who it is clear will go on to do great things because of the quality of their character, their work ethic, and their dedication to team values. Lindsay Harris is one such person,” says Acadia coach Bev Greenlaw. “She is a leader on and off the court, and she is also one of the mentally and physically toughest and most unselfish human beings I have ever been fortunate enough to coach. She is truly an inspiring young woman to be around.”
Joining Sylla on the All-rookie team were: …………………………………………………… Danielle Boiago (McMaster); Marilyse Roy-Viau (Concordia); Cassandra Nofuente (Ryerson); and Jenna Bugiardini (Victoria). …………………………………………………… Boiago, a kinesiology student from Hamilton, finished eighth in the OUA in scoring with 15.3 ppg, while nabbing 4.5 rpg. She also finished eighth in the OUA and fifth in the west division with 2.4 spg. …………………………………………………… Roy-Viau, an education student from St-Janvier, Que. …………………………………………………… Nofuente, from Toronto, finished 16th in the OUA with 12.6 ppg. The 5-6 guard also hauled in 6.3 rpg which was 17th in the OUA. Nofuente finished fifth in the OUA with 4.0 assists per game and second in the conference in 3.0 steals per outing. Nofuente was also recognized as a second team all-star. …………………………………………………… Bugiardini, a business student from Hamilton, started 21 of 24 games for the 16-6 Vikes. The 5-11 forward was fifth in team scoring, averaging 5.6 ppg. She averaged .370 from the floor and 4.2 rpg. “What she does doesn’t always show up on the stats but she does all the little things and gets the little hustle plays,” said Vikes associate coach Dani Sinclair. “As a first-year player, she was tasked guarding some of the other team’s top forwards and one of the best ways to stop someone is not let them catch the ball and she understood how to do that. She is a very smart player and comes from a background of winning.”