McMaster guard Danielle Boiago was named recipient of the Nan Copp Award as national player of the year. The 5-7 guard from Hamilton St. Thomas More was named both the OUA player of the year and defensive player of year, as well as a first-team all-star for the third consecutive campaign. She led the conference in scoring (25.5 ppg), and finished third overall in several additional offensive categories, including: assists (81) and three-pointers made (51). She led the league in steals (63) and ranked top ten in rebounds per game (7.0). Boiago finished her McMaster career as their all-time leading scorer with 1,719 points. The kinesiology student from Hamilton “added improvements to her game at both ends of the court in every year of her career,” said McMaster coach Theresa Burns. “What we see now is the result of her pure passion for the game and unbelievable work ethic: a complete player, a special player who can dominate in almost every statistical category. She has been a consummate leader and I’m so thrilled that she is being recognized in this way.” The other nominees were guards Antoinette Miller of Winnipeg, Jane Gagné of Laval, and forward Alison Keough of Cape Breton.
Winnipeg guard Antoinette Miller was chosen recipient of the defensive player of the year award. The 5-6 guard and fourth-year applied health & education student from Phoenix, Arizona, was named both Canada West player of the year and defensive player of the year. She led the Wesmen to an 18-2 record and a first-place finish in the regular season standings. She finished regular season play with 72 steals (third in the country) and was instrumental in Winnipeg’s ability to hold foes to 60.7 points per game, and .376 from the floor. She fourth in the nation in scoring and first in Canada West (18.7 ppg) and first in the league in assists with 76. She was third in steals (72) and sixth in defensive rebounds (118). “We are very proud at the University of Winnipeg that Antoinette was recognized as the U SPORTS Defensive Player of the Year,” said Wesmen coach Tanya McKay. “Antoinette is a tremendous competitor, rebounder and defender who is very deserving of this award. Antoinette plays the game with a tremendous amount of passion and heart and this has helped elevate the play of her teammates all year. … Antoinette is one of the most explosive and tenacious defenders I have had the pleasure to coach in my 21 years at the University of Winnipeg. As a diminutive 5’6” guard, Antoinette has inflicted havoc on the league with her ability to disrupt the oppositions’ offence with her amazing anticipation skills, her quick hands, relentless pursuit defending the ball, along with her gift to come out of the pack with a defensive rebound.” The other nominees were guard Danielle Boiago of McMaster, centres Alexandra Kiss-Rusk of McGill, and Katelyn Mangold of New Brunswick.
Regina guard Kyanna Giles was named recipient of the Kathy Shields Award as national rookie of the year. The 5-7 arts student from Winnipeg Sisler finished second on the Cougars in scoring (12.9 ppg) and led the team in rebounding (7.3 rpg) and steals. She eclipsed the 20-point barrier on three occasions in conference play, including a season-high 25 against Brandon. She was also one of the conference’s best from three-point range, hitting 21 triples and shooting over 41% from the arc. She was named a third-team Canada West all-star. “It’s rare for a rookie to be able to start and be one of the leading scorers and leading rebounder for a team that’s been top four in the country all year,” said Regina coach Dave Taylor. “That shows what a special talent she is. We make her guard four different positions on the floor, and she’s had a bigger impact than any rookie we’ve ever had in my 11 years here.” The other nominees were guards Jenna Mae Ellsworth of UPEI, Kayah Clarke of Windsor, and Caroline Task of Concordia.
Queen’s Dave Wilson was named recipient of the Peter Ennis Award as national coach of the year. Wilson, in his 35th year as head coach and 36th with the program, guided the Gaels to a team-best 18-1 record in Ontario University Athletics regular season play, finishing with a silver medal in the OUA postseason final on home court in Kingston. The team also reached a program high in the national rankings, rising to the No. 3 spot in the coaches’ poll. Queen’s had one of the best defensive units in the country, averaging a national-best 12.4 spg while limiting opponents to shoot just 23.5 per cent from beyond the arc, good for second in the country. Wilson is a four-time recipient of the OUA coach of the year award and had 352 career wins heading into the national championship tournament. In his 36 years with Queen’s, Wilson has produced a 100 per cent graduation rate for his student-athletes. “Queen’s University is extremely proud of Dave Wilson and the contributions he has made to the university and women’s basketball,” said Jeff Downie, Queen’s acting executive director, Athletics and Recreation. “Dave continues to push his program and players to be at their best not only on the court but in the classroom as well. The entire coaching staff and players are a source of great pride and inspiration for all at Queen’s.” The other nominees were Guillaume Giroux of Laval, Tanya McKay of Winnipeg, and Scott Munro of Saint Mary’s.
Joining Boiago and Miller on the All-Canadian first team were: Jane Gagné (Laval); Alison Keough (Cape Breton); and Paloma Anderson (Acadia). …………………………………………………… Gagné, a third-year chemistry student from Chicoutimi, Que., was the RSEQ player of the year, after missing the previous season with a torn ACL. The 6-0 swingman placed fifth in the RSEQ in scoring (13.6 ppg), fourth in field-goal shooting percentage (.463) and second in three-point shooting (.373). She finished in the top 10 in nine offensive and defensive statistical categories in the RSEQ, with 6.1 rebounds per game, 0.3 block shots per game for rank number six in the league in both these cases. …………………………………………………… Keough, a fourth-year business administration student from Marion Bridge, was named Atlantic University Sport player of the year. The 6-1 forward led in AUS in rebounding, with 9.9 rpg. Her 7.4 defensive rebounds per game were the third most in U Sports. Keough was the Capers’ leading scorer, averaging 19.3 ppg, which ranked second in the AUS and third in U Sports. In 80 games started and played over four seasons with Cape Breton, Keough has amassed 1,351 career points. Her 782 rebounds are the most in Capers’ history and place her fourth in AUS all-time record books. She was also named an AUS first team all-star for the third consecutive year. In 2016, she was named a second team all-Canadian.
…………………………………………………… Anderson, a third-year business administration student from Phoenix, Arizona, was a first-team AUS all-star. The 5-1 guard averaged 18.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 4.3 apg, while hitting .446 from the floor, .469 from the arc and .759 from the line in regular season play.
The All-Canadian 2nd-team included: Sabine Dukate (Saskatchewan); Heather Lindsay (Carleton); Richelle Gregoire (Concordia); Sofia Paska (Ryerson); and Maddison Penn (U.B.C.). …………………………………………………… Dukate, a second-year arts & sciences student from Ventspiils, Latvia, was a first-team Canada West all-star and helped lead the Huskies to their second consecutive postseason conference crown. She averaged 13.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 3.6 apg in regular season conference playing, while hitting .462 from the floor, .407 from the arc and .741 from the line. …………………………………………………… Lindsay, a fourth-year environmental studies student from Ottawa, Ont., was a first-team OUA all-star for the second consecutive season. The 6-3 forward led the nation in rebounding (10.8 rpg), tallying 15 or more rebounds in a game on seven occasions. She also led the country and the league in field goal shooting percentage (.558), while scoring 14.1 ppg. She shot .775 from the line (sixth in the OUA), and blocked 33 shots (2nd in the OUA). …………………………………………………… Gregoire, a fifth-year adult education student from Ste. Therese, Que., was a first-team RSEQ all-star. The 5-10 guard averaged 15.1 ppg, while hitting .413 from the floor, .375 from the arc and .846 from the line and garnering 6.7 rpg, 24 assists, 45 steals and 4 blocks. …………………………………………………… Paska, a third-year early child studies student from Etobicoke, Ont., was a first-team OUA all-conference selection for the second consecutive season. The 6-4 forward from Etobicoke Richview was second in the OUA and the country in rebounding (10.4 rpg) and third in the conference with 18.5 point per game. She hit .456 from the floor, 2-86 from the arc and .820 from the line (100-120), while also garnering 56 assists, 33 steals and 38 blocks in OUA regular season play. …………………………………………………… Penn, and second-year kinesiology student from Avoca Beach, Australia, was a first-team Canada West all-star. The 6-1 forward hit .377 from the floor, .326 from the arc and .807 from the line, while averaged 5.3 rpg and notching 41 assists, 18 blocks and 44 steals.
Joining Giles on the All-Canadian rookie team were: Jenna Mae Ellsworth (U.P.E.I.); Kayah Clarke (Windsor); Caroline Task (Concordia); and Libby Epoch (Saskatchewan). …………………………………………………… Ellsworth, an arts & sciences student from Charlottetown, P.E.I., was the Atlantic University Sport rookie of the year. The 5-10 guard started 18 games for the Panthers and led them in scoring, averaging 14.1 ppg. She finished tied for first in the conference in assists, averaging 3.3 apg, and second in steals, averaging 2.8 spg. She also averaged 4.9 rpg. Ellsworth was also named an AUS second-team all-star. …………………………………………………… Clarke, a human kinetics student from Hamilton, Ont., was named the OUA rookie of the year. The former Hamilton Transway star started 17 games and finished third on the Lancers in points per game (11.5). The 5-9 guard also averaged 5.1 rpg and 1.6 apg, while hitting .397 from the floor, .297 from the arc and .600 from the line. …………………………………………………… Task, a human resources student from Dorval, Que., was named the RSEQ rookie of the year. The 5-4 point guard played an average of 29.3 minutes a game, noting 9.1 ppg and 3.4 rpg. She had 27 steals or 1.7 a game and she sunk 19 three-pointers. …………………………………………………… Epoch, an arts & sciences student from Moose Jaw, Sask., was a Canada West first-team all-rookie selection. The 5-7 point guard averaged 8.1 ppg, while hitting .276 from the floor, .326 from the arc and .821 from the line. She averaged 3.7 apg and 1.4 spg.