REGULAR SEASON
| Cape Breton | 16-4 | 30-7 | Fabian McKenzie | |||||
| New Brunswick | 12-8 | 25-13 | Joyce Slipp | |||||
| St. Mary’s | 12-8 | 20-18 | Jill Jeffrey | |||||
| Dalhousie | 11-9 | 19-14 | Carolyn Savoy | |||||
| Memorial | 12-7 | 18-11 | Doug Partridge | |||||
| U.P.E.I. | 8-12 | 13-16 | Reagh Vidito | |||||
| St. FX | 6-14 | 7-17 | Theresa MacCuish | |||||
| Acadia | 2-17 | 5-23 | Angie McLeod | |||||
On the final weekend of the regular season, a blizzard prevented a Saturday game between Memorial and Acadia from being played. The AUS announced that a Sunday match-up between the pair would count as a four-point game.
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Acadia Axewomen: Jessica Bower, Jennifer Bishop, Stacey Lillico, Kim Hurley, Ginny Gane, Anna Crosby, Marianne Thomson, Katrina Clow, Leslie Steeves, Samantha Nuttall, Ashley Drohan, Caitlin Crosby, Becky Mutch, Samantha Sanford, Marissa Porter, coach Angie McLeod
St. Francis Xavier X-Women: Laura Clark, Shannon Matheson, Emily Schafflik, Carla MacNeil, Nicole Ross, Leah Mochrie, Darlana Withers, Tara Kinnear, Beth Stephen, Jacquelyn Richardson, Teresa Morrison, Rachel Richard, Christine Kirk, Emily Paplowski, coach Theresa MacCuish, assistant Brendan Mulcahy, manager Holly MacKenzie, therapist Tara Sutherland, therapist Kurt Stevenson, doctor David Cudmore, KM Krista McKenna
In the quarterfinals, St. Mary’s dumped U.P.E.I. 59-42 as Alise Brown scored 16 on 5-12 from the floor, 6-11 from the line and 8 boards. Sherelle Carvery scored 14 on 5-7 from the floor, 2-4 from the arc, 2-2 from the line, 4 boards, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Kelsey Daley notched 10 on 1-5 from the floor, 7-8 from the line, 4 boards and 5 assists. Laura MacPherson added 9 on 4-8 from the floor and 9 boards. Elizabeth Gibbons added 6 on 3-5 from the floor and 3 assists. Shannon Grant scored 3, Vanessa Ryan 1, Ashley Briggs 0, Julia Finlay 0 and Christie Darius 0. The Huskies hit 19-42 (.452) from the floor, 4-11 (.364) from the arc and 17-27 (.630) from the line, while garnering 29 boards, including 7 on the offensive glass, 14 assists, 17 fouls, 22 turnovers, 10 steals and 5 blocks. The Huskies said they benefited greatly from a series of hand signals coach Jill Jeffrey had installed during practice the previous week. “We all thought it might be a little foolish but she knew it was going to be a wild atmosphere,” said guard Alise Brown. ‘It’s a good thing we had them.” The Huskies led 24-13 at the half as their post defence stopped the Panther attack. “We were phenomenal defensively and executed almost flawlessly,” said Jeffery. “You’d never know Kelsey Daley was a rookie by the way she played and Liz Gibbons played the game of her life. She was absolutely outstanding for us.” Lindsay Coade paced U.P.E.I. with 11 on 5-11 from the floor and 9 boards. Jenna Kaye scored 9 on 2-6 from the floor, 5-10 from the line and 3 boards. Melissa-Anne Campbell scored 8 on 3-13 from the floor and 2-2 from the line. Katie Andrews notched 7 on 1-8 from the floor, 4-5 from the line and 4 boards. Katherine Walters scored 4 on 2-5 from the floor and 5 boards. Cassie Goodwin added 3, Katie Hamilton 0, Jennifer Russell 0 and Mary Catherine Connolly 0. The Panthers hit 14-49 (.286) from the floor, 2-11 (.182) from the arc and 12-21 (.571) from the line, while garnering 28 boards, including 11 on the offensive glass, 8 assists, 23 fouls, 18 turnovers, 8 steals and 1 block. The Panthers (coached by Reagh Vidito) also included Chelsea Kavanagh, Katie McCormack, Mandy Lise McKenna, Erin Millard and May Lynn Downey.
In the other quarterfinal, the Dalhousie Tigers clipped the Memorial Sea-Hawks 65-48 as Ryan McKay scored 21 on 7-15 from the floor, 2-4 from the arc and 5-6 from the line. Kathleen McNeil scored 9 on 3-5 from the floor, 3-6 from the line and 7 boards. Carolyn Peppin scored 8 on 3-4 from the floor and 2-3 from the arc. April Scott scored 8 on 3-5 from the floor, 2-3 from the line and 6 boards. Kelly Donald notched 5 on 5-6 from the line, 6 boards and 5 assists. Tamara Mijatovic scored 4 on 2-3 from the floor. Laurie Girdwood added 2, while Gill Donald and Emma Cooper were scoreless. The Tigers hit 22-50 (.440) from the floor, 4-8 from the arc and 17-25 (.680) from the line, while garnering 38 boards, including 9 on the offensive glass, 13 assists, 18 fouls, 20 turnovers, 7 steals and 2 blocks. Katherine Quackenbush paced Memorial with 22 on 7-19 from the floor, 8-12 from the line, 9 boards, 3 steals and 3 blocks. Krista Singleton added 10 on 4-8 from the floor and 2-4 from the line. Paula Barker scored 6 on 3-9 from the floor. Kelly Himmelman notched 3, Meegan Seaward 3, Erin Mullaley 2, Meghan Dalton 2, while Renee McGrath, Leslie Stewart, Amy Peveril and Melissa Prunty were scoreless. The Sea-Hawks shot 17-59 (.288) from the floor, 1-10 from the arc and 13-19 (.684) from the line, while garnering 26 boards, including 8 on the offensive glass, 9 assists, 20 fouls, 12 turnovers, 13 steals and 3 blocks. “I’d hoped we might put it together and play our best basketball but I knew we were in tough,” said Memorial coach Doug Partridge. ‘I thought a number of people tried to do what we asked them to do but I don’t think we had a lot of success. I think were just too inexperienced. I just felt we lost focus on the type of physical work we had to do to be prepared for the playoffs. Even if you lose a couple of major stars, you have to be in great shape and have to pay the physical price. If you don’t, you won’t perform no matter how much talent you have.” The Sea-Hawks (coached by Doug Partridge) also included Laura Critch, Stephanie Wakeham and Stefanie Foo.
In the semis, Cape Breton defeated Dalhousie 61-51 as Natasha Eadie scored 18 on 7-15 from the floor, 4-4 from the line and 6 boards. Cecilia Romero added 16 on 8-17 from the floor and 11 boards. Debbie Ruiz scored 12 on 3-8 from the floor, 5-6 from the line and 5 boards. Maureen Murrin notched 7 on 2-9 from the floor and 2-3 from the line. Tamara Alleyne scored 4 on 2-3 from the floor. Cheryl MacInnis scored 4 on 2-5 from the floor, while Katherine Kanaski and Kelsey Hodgson were scoreless. The Capers hit 24-62 (.387) from the floor, 2-7 (.286) from the arc and 11-16 (.688) from the line, while garnering 28 boards, including 14 on the offensive glass, 12 assists, 8 fouls, 13 turnovers, 7 steals and 1 block. Ryan McKay paced Dalhousie with 18 points on 7-14 from the floor, 2-4 from the arc, 2-2 from the line and 4 boards. Leslie Duncan added 12 on 6-11 from the floor and 6 boards. Kathleen McNeil scored 6 on 3-6 from the floor and 6 boards. April Scott scored 6 on 2-5 from the floor, 7 boards and 4 steals. Carolyn Peppin added 3, Kelly Donald 2, Emma Cooper 2, Tamara Mijatovic 2 and Laurie Girdwood 0. The Tigers shot 22-52 (.423) from the floor, 3-9 from the arc and 4-4 from the line, while garnering 30 boards, including 9 on the offensive glass, 12 assists, 16 fouls, 17 turnovers and 9 steals.
In the other semi, the Saint Mary’s Huskies dumped the New Brunswick Red Bloomers 64-52 as Sherelle Carvery scored 17 on 4-8 from the floor, 9-10 from the line and 6 boards. Laura MacPherson added 16 on 7-10 from the floor, 2-4 from the line, 10 boards and 4 assists. Kelsey Daley scored 12 on 4-8 from the floor, 2-2 from the arc, 2-2 from the line, 3 boards and 4 assists. Alise Brown scored 11 on 3-11 from the floor, 5-6 from the line, 3 boards, 5 assists and 3 steals. Vanessa Ryan scored 6 on 2-3 from the floor. Julia Finlay added 2, while Christie Darius, Elizabeth Gibbons, Ashley Briggs and Shannon Grant were scoreless. The Huskies shot 21-48 (.438) from the floor, 2-9 (.222) from the arc and 20-29 (.690) from the line, while garnering 31 boards, including 7 on the offensive glass, 17 assists, 15 fouls, 11 turnovers, 6 steals and 6 blocks. Carolyn Plummer paced New Brunswick with 17 points on 7-15 from the floor and 8 boards. Christy McBride scored 13 on 6-16 from the floor. Leah Corby notched 6 on 2-6 from the floor. Jennifer Veysey scored 2 on 1-6 from the floor and 7 boards. Kathleen Singh scored 3 on 3-5 from the line and 5 boards. Elizabeth Marr scored 4, Katelyn Springer 2, Lou Walsh 4, Joanna Fox 2 and Emily Murphy 0. The Varsity Reds shot 20-54 (.370) from the floor, 3-9 from the arc and 9-13 (.692) from the line while garnering 32 boards, including 9 on the offensive glass, 6 assists, 19 fouls, 9 turnovers, 8 steals and 1 block. Saint Mary’s built an early late point lead before New Brunswick rallied to within 26-24 at the half. The Huskies team defence stifled the Reds in the second half as they stretched their margin to double digits and maintained a comfortable lead until the final buzzer. “You can attribute our improved post defence to myself, Ross Quackenbush and Trevor Stienburg (men’s hockey coach,” said St. Mary’s coach Jill Jeffrey. “We worked on it all week and the players did what they had to do. We believe in ourselves and we’re excited to take the next step.”
In the final, the Cape Breton Capers dumped the Saint Mary’s Huskies 68-56 as Debbie Ruiz scored 25 on 9-14 from the floor, 6-7 from the line, 5 boards and 4 assists. Tamara Alleyne added 15 on 6-6 from the floor, 3-6 from the line, 5 boards and 3 steals. Maureen Murrin scored 10 on 3-8 from the floor, 2-4 from the arc, 5 boards and 4 assists. Natasha Eadie notched 10 on 4-8 from the floor. Cecilia Romero added 5, Katherine Kanaski 2, Cheryl MacInnis 2 and Kelsey Hodgson 0. The Capers hit 25-42 (.595) from the floor, 3-6 from the arc and 15-19 (.789) from the line, while garnering 26 boards, including 7 on the offensive glass, 15 assists, 7 fouls, 14 turnovers and 9 steals. Kelsey Daley paced the Huskies with 18 points on 6-11 from the floor, 4-7 from the arc and 2-2 from the line. Laura MacPherson added 8 on 3-7 from the floor and 6 boards. Sherelle Carvery scored 8 on 4-8 from the floor. Alise Brown notched 8 on 4-10 from the floor. Vanessa Ryan added 5 on 2-6 from the floor. Shannon Grant scored 5, Julia Finlay 4, Elizabeth Gibbons 0 and Ashley Briggs 0. The Huskies shot 23-54 (.426) from the floor, 4-10 from the arc and 6-6 from the line, while garnering 18 boards, including 8 on the offensive glass, 11 assists, 14 fouls, 18 turnovers, 8 steals and 4 blocks. Cape Breton led 42-25 at the half. Capers coach Fabian McKenzie said his troops were motivated by the Huskies avowed intention to knock them off. “They said they were coming to beat us so that served as a little extra motivation for us but we knew we’d have that extra jump on them. Some people counted us out earlier this year (after graduating Kelli McHugh and Heather Ross), so it’s a phenomenal feeling to win it all.” Saint Mary’s coach Jill Jeffery said “Cape Breton brought a different level of intensity. It’s tough to have that for three days.” McKenzie called it a very rewarding victory. “It was true effort by our coaching staff and our players from day one right through to the end. Even with the loss of all-star status players like Kelli McHugh and Heather Ross, this team grew throughout the season and to see them win it all is very rewarding.”
After the season, New Brunswick coach Joyce Slipp announces that she is retiring. “I’ve been thinking about retiring for a while now and it just feels right for me to move onto another chapter of my life. I’ve enjoyed it all – all the games, all the practices, all the athletes, everything about it. It was fun.”
St. FX athletic director adds that the school’s search committee has settled on Brent Baker as a replacement for interim coach Theresa MacCuish. “I am excited at the opportunity to have Brent Baker join our team of coaches. Anyone who knows Brent Baker understands that he has a wealth of basketball experience and has strong ties to StFX which makes him a good fit for the position.” Baker was an assistant with the men’s program and a StFX grad, earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1985 and a Bachelor of Education in 1986. He coached the boy’s program at Cobequid Educational Centre in Truro for 17 years, while teaching social studies. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to coach at the CIS level at a school and athletic department with which I have had a very positive history. Our goal is to mirror the success that the men’s program has achieved through their staples of success, recruiting top student athletes, continuity of the coaching staff and a player’s first philosophy. We have all the key ingredients to be successful at the CIS level: a great academic institution, an athletic department committed to building championship programs and a community in Antigonish that is very supportive of StFX athletics. “I’m very thankful for the great experience I’ve had, but this just isn’t for me at this time of my life,” the 33-year-old MacCuish, who signed a one-year contract last June, told the Halifax Daily News. “I’m confident Brent will do a wonderful job. He bleeds blue blood.”
The co-bronze medalist Dalhousie Tigers: Ryan McKay; Leslie Duncan; Kathleen McNeil; April Scott; Carolyn Peppin; Kelly Donald; Emma Cooper; Tamara Mijatovic; Laurie Girdwood; Leah Girdwood; Dara Young; Gillian Donald; coach Carolyn Savoy
The co-bronze medalist New Brunswick Varsity Reds: Carolyn Plummer; Christy McBride; Leah Corby; Jennifer Veysey; Kathleen Singh; Elizabeth Marr; Katelyn Springer; Lou Walsh; Joanna Fox; Emily Murphy; Jill Rowe; Stephanie Dinn; Victoria Walker; coach Joyce Slipp; assistant Dick Slipp; assistant Tyler Slipp
The runner-up Saint Mary’s Huskies: Kelsey Daley; Laura MacPherson; Sherelle Carvery; Alise Brown; Vanessa Ryan; Shannon Grant; Julia Finlay; Elizabeth Gibbons; Ashley Briggs; Christie Darius; Ashley Briggs; Shannon Grant; Jennifer Bray; Hayley Fox; redshirt Marrla Evans; coach Jill Jeffrey
The champion Cape Breton Capers: Debralle Ruiz; Tamara Alleyne; Maureen Murrin; Natasha Eadie; Cecilia Romero; Katherine Kanaskie; Cheryl MacInnis; Kelsey Hodgson; MacKenzie Turner; Angela Fifield; Danielle Snow; Shenik Phillips; coach Fabian McKenzie; assistant Doug Connors; assistant Kim Reynolds; manager Mandy Morgan; trainer Miranda Munro; athletic director John Ryan