REGULAR SEASON

PLAINS       CENTRAL        
  Winnipeg 14-6 29-9 Tanya McKay Calgary 12-8 17-16 Shawnee Harle  
  Regina 13-7 20-11 Jeff Speedy Alberta  9-11 16-17 Trix Baker  
  Manitoba 12-8 19-13 Pam Danis Lethbridge  6-14  6-16 Shannon Frier-Finnie  
  Brandon  0-20  2-24 Tami Pennell Saskatchewan  6-14  9-21 Lisa Thomaidis  
  WEST                
  Simon Fraser 18-2 24-2 Bruce Langford          
  Victoria 14-6 16-9 Brian Cheng          
  U.B.C. 13-7 19-9 Deb Huband          
  Trinity Western  3-17  5-22 Danielle Gardner          
                   

        Playoff non-qualifiers:

        Brandon Bobcats: Jody Jury, Alecia Evans, Heather Couzens, Marrla Evans, Rhiana Wall, Maurisa Wells, Billi Jo Beheler, Marsha-Lynne Murdoc, Nikkina Weasel Head, Jocelyn Davis, Kate Begley, Janey Bradford, Suzette Atoa, Chelsea Medd, coach Tami Pennell

        Lethbridge Pronghorns: Anita Demenezes, Angela Thompson, Heidi Somerville, Melissa Mihone, Sheryl Webster, Amanda Edlund, Chantelle Kennedy, Elana Arnold, Aimee Sandham, Katherine Watson, Jaime Tschritter, Jen Loraas-Pletsch, coach Shannon Frier

        Saskatchewan Huskies: Jodi Bevan, Ashley Dutchak, Jill Stein, Sarah Crooks, Lisa Bodnarus, Lauren Evans, Lisa Glemser, Shaine Swridrovich, Sharlene Cooper, Shaina Swidrovich, Catherine Leiffers, Andrea Gislason, Carly Brown, Suzanne Harriman, Katherine Keys, coach Lisa Thomaidis, assistant Allison Fairbrother

        Trinity Western Spartans: Heidi DeHaan, Taylor Stuart, Kimhyld Mellieur, Samantha Hill, Katie Chylds, Shannon Lockhart, Christie Bigelow, Kelsey Smith, Christina Hofman, Elka Erikson, Kaitlin Burns, Christina Hoffman, Beth Graham, Erinn Smith, coach Danielle Gardiner

In the quarterfinals, Calgary defeated U.B.C. 84-78; 69-58 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… In game one, Calgary prevailed by 84-78 in double overtime as Shari Jonker scored 14 to defeat the team of her sister, an assistant at U.B.C. “I just wanted to come out hard, with some confidence and that’s the only thing on which I focused,” she said. “It was one of my best games. It was a challenge, double OT. It was a gutsy win, with so many minutes for everyone. It took quite a bit out of us, but we pulled it off.” Jessica Foltinek led Calgary 19, including 9 in overtime. She hit three free throws in the final minute to ice it. “That made it a two possession game and with so little time left, they just couldn’t come back.” Carrie Watson led U.B.C. with 28 points. The Thunderbirds led 35-32 at the half and the score was knotted at 66 after regulation and at 75 after the first overtime. …………………………………………………… In game two, Calgary prevailed 69-58 as Cory Bekkering scored 14, Anna Bekkering 13 and Jessica Foltinek 10, while blocking 7 shots. The Dinosaurs opened the second half with a 15-6 run to take command. Kelsey Blair led U.B.C. with 19. The Thunderbirds (coached by Deb Huband) also included Sheila Townsend, Carrie Watson, Brandie Speers, Carlee St. Denis, Lauren Liem, Annie Krygsveld, Amanda Beers, Kim Howe, Jessie Evans, Chrissy Job, Letah Beck and Andrea Bustillo.

        Victoria defeated Regina 53-46; 36-63; 63-59 (2g-1). …………………………………………………… In the opener, the 4th-ranked Vikings dumped the 5th-ranked Cougars 53-46 as Jania Mynott scored 17 and Dani Everitt 12. The Vikings took control midway through the first half, extending their lead to as many as 13. Victoria led 31-24 at the half on the strength of lethal perimeter shooting as they hit four from beyond the arc. Regina opened the second half with two quick hoops and Vikings coach Brian Cheng was forced to sit Lindsay Anderson with her fourth foul early in the frame. But Jania Mynott continued to dominate the boards as Victoria maintained its edge. The closest the Cougars were able to come was five points. Mynott tallied 8 boards for Victoria. Regina, coached by Jeff Speedy, who’d apprenticed under Kathy Shields for two years, was led by Cymone Bouchard’s 14 points and 10 boards. Leah Anderson added 13 points. …………………………………………………… In game two, Regina shot the lights out and stomped Victoria 63-36. The Vikes had just one offensive rebound on the night. “We were a little too overconfident,” said forward Jania Mynott. “I think that we gave up, and that’s not our character.” Regina coach Jeff Speedy said it was the Cougars “best game of the year.” They built a 43-20 halftime lead on the strength of 62-per-cent shooting. “We’re not a defensive juggernaut by any means, but we kept one of Canada West’s best teams to 36 points in its own gym,” Speedy said. “We hadn’t played that well all year.” Cymone Bouchard scored 19 points, Tara-Lee Crosson added 12, while Lara Schmidt grabbed 14 rebounds. Andrea van Koll had eight points for Victoria. …………………………………………………… In game three, Victoria’s perimeter shooting proved the difference as the Vikes collected a 63-59 win to take the series. Dani Everitt, Lindsay Hewson and Beckie MacDonald each scored a pair from beyond the arc as the Vikes took a 38-28 lead at the half. The Cougars tried to answer the call in the second and rallied to within five with 5 minutes to play but Victoria stiffened its defence and pulled out the win. Krystal O’Bryne led Victoria with 16 points. Everitt added 13, while Lindsay Anderson grabbed 9 boards. Cymone Bouchard led Regina with 25 points and 8 boards. Jana Schweitzer added 14 points. “You can talk Xs and Os all you want, but it comes down to which team works together and has heart,” said Dani Everitt, whose composure and ball handling in the final minutes helped the Vikes fend off a desperate late charge by Regina. “When we play well, it’s when we play together.” The Vikes struggled early from the floor. Regina led 10-9 midway through the first half. But Victoria hit four treys to take control. Beckie MacDonald hit two of them, as did Lindsay Hewson, which gave the Vikes a 38-28 lead at the break. “They made the shots and we didn’t,” said Regina coach Jeff Speedy. “You can’t guard everyone on the perimeter, when they are making that many shots.” Krystal O’Byrne hit a field goal, 4 free throws and then drew a charge as Victoria established a double-digit lead early in the second half. “I give a lot of credit to the kids,” Vikes coach Brian Cheng said. “They kept their focus all game long.” The Vikes led 59-43 with less than 10 minutes to play but Cymone Bouchard began attacking with the penetration dribble to rally Regina. “If they had had enough time, they would have come back,” said Cheng. “Dani was great down the stretch. She kept us composed.” The Vikes, who finished with eight steals, prevailed by running out the clock on each possession. In the last minute, Everitt stepped in front of Bouchard, who fouled out. “We were not ready for the season to be over,” Mynott said. “We were there for each other today.” O’Byrne led Victoria with 16 points. Everitt had 13, and Anderson 12, along with 9 boards. Regina coach Jeff Speedy said “we left it all on the floor, but it wasn’t enough. We’ll take this, learn from it and use it as motivation for next year.” began attacking with the penetration dribble to rally Regina. Bouchard paced the Cougars with 25. Jana Schweitzer added 14. The Cougars (coached by Jeff Speedy) also included Leah Anderson, Lara Schmidt, Tara-Lee Crosson, Laura Hunko, Rumali Werapitiya, Danielle Ash, Leane Phillips, Shannon Funk, Logan Harris, Janel Walker and Harmony McMillan.

Simon Fraser defeated Alberta 78-63; 73-46 (2g-0). …………………………………………………… The Clan took game one by a 78-63 count as Jessica Kaczowka scored 31 and grabbed 9 boards. Maren Corrigal added 19, Morgan McLaughlin 10, Julia Wilson 8, Jennifer Macleod 5 and Dani Langford 5. SFU shot 32-62 from the floor, 5-16 from the arc, 9-13 from the line, while garnering 34 boards, 21 assists, 16 turnovers, 3 blocks and 11 steals. Christine Shewchuk led Alberta with 27 points. Cristi Allan added 11, Amanda Smith 7, Erika Ganger 7, Karen Lodge 6, Carmen Gassner 2, Melissa Penner 2 and Katie West 1. The Pandas shot 22-53 from the floor, 4-11 from the arc, 15-21 from the line while garnering 31 boards, 10 assists, 19 turnovers and one steal. SFU led 42-36 at the half and scored 46 points in the paint to Alberta’s 26. The Clan scored 27 points off Alberta’s turnovers. Alberta scored only 7 off Clan turnovers. The Clan had 27 second chance points, Alberta 8. …………………………………………………… In game two, Simon Fraser prevailed 73-46. Christine Shewchuk scored 14 to lead the Pandas. Alberta (coached by Trix Kannekens-Baker) also included Christi Allan, Diane Smith, Amanda Smith, Alana Pyzyk, Karen Lodge, Erika Ganger, Carmen Gassner, Melissa Penner, April Kanderka, Justine Stenger, Rachel VanderVeen, Katie West, Michelle Smith and Lindsay Jantzie.

In the last quarterfinal, Winnipeg defeated Manitoba 54-55; 54-68; 60-56 (2g-1). …………………………………………………… In game one, seventh-seeded Manitoba dumped 2nd-seeded Winnipeg 55-54. Wesmen guard JoAnne Wells was fouled as she drove to the hoop with 31 seconds to play and hit a pair from the line to give Winnipeg a 54-53 lead. But Anna Drewniak scored the winner off an inside feed from Linda Guy with 8 seconds to play. Sally Kaznica’s baseline jumper rolled off the rim at the buzzer as Winnipeg sought to escape the upset. The see-saw affair saw the score tied six times with a second half nine-point Bison lead the largest of the game. Linda Guy led Manitoba with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, while 5th year post Melissa Stoesz added 14 points. Winnipeg got 23 points from guard JoAnne Wells and 12 more, plus 7 boards, from sister Janet. Manitoba, ranked No. 9 nationally, shot 39.1% from the field and No. 8 Winnipeg checked in at 40%. The Bisons shot 16-18 from the line, while the Wesmen were 8-9. …………………………………………………… In game two, Winnipeg used a 15-4 run in the final seven and a half minutes of the game to pullout a 68-54 win. Guard JoAnne Wells led the Wesmen with 20 points and 5 rebounds, while sister Janet added 16 points and 11 boards for a playoff double-double. Winnipeg fought back from a nine-point deficit with under 10 minutes left in the game, thanks to 8 straight points from JoAnne Wells. Janet Wells coolly dropped 6 straight free throws in the final 90 seconds, including two with six ticks on the clock remaining after being fouled while pulling down a Manitoba miss. …………………………………………………… In game three, Winnipeg pulled out a 60-56 win as forward Janet Wells hit six straight foul shots in the last 1:26, the last two coming with 6 seconds left, after she rebounded a missed Linda Guy shot and was fouled. Winnipeg led 30-27 in the first half as Manitoba committed 14 turnovers. But Linda Guy scored 11 straight points as Manitoba built a nine-point lead midway through the second half. JoAnne Wells answered with eight straight as Manitoba cut the lead to two with 7:46 remaining. The teams traded big hoops, clutch foul shots and untimely turnovers to set up the dramatic finish. Janet Wells led Winnipeg with her second straight double-double, hitting for 23 points to go with 10 rebounds. Sister JoAnne added 21 points 6 boards and 4 steals. Both were 8-8 from the line. Lynda Guy led Manitoba with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals. Forward Anna Drewniak added 14 points and 5 rebounds. The Bisons (coached by Pam Danis) also included Melissa Stoesz, Diana Gray, Jayne Legal-Antoniuk, Sarah Holder, Sopear Chhin, Michelle Edwards, Aleksandra Samborsk, Katherine Loewen, Vicki Latter, Leanne Turner and Cassandra Siemens.

In the Final Four semis, held at Simon Fraser, 2nd-seeded Winnipeg defeated 3rd-seeded Victoria 76-62 as first-team all-star JoAnne Wells registered a double-double with 24 points and 11 boards. “Ever since the playoffs started we have really come together as a team,” said Wells, 5’11” third year forward from Bedford, Nova Scotia. ”Everybody is playing unselfishly and finding each other on the floor.” Guards Heidi Schwartz and Sally Kaznica chipped in with 16 points each. The Wesmen out-rebounded Victoria 37-22 while shooting 50% from the field. “We boxed-out really well and won most of the one-on-one battles. That was the key,” said Wells. Victoria got 19 points from guard Lindsay Anderson, 13 points from forward Krystal O’Byrne and 10 from Jania Mynott. The Vikes hit just 6-25 from beyond the arc. The Vikes led 36-35 at the half but were outscored 25-8 in the first 10 minutes of the second half as they struggled with Wesmen pressure. “Our game plan was to keep them on their toes – to keep them on the edge to force shots they didn’t really want to make,” said Winnipeg coach Tanya McKay. “Down the stretch we’ve really had to dig down deep to play tough D and boards.” JoAnne Wells hit 10-10 from the line over the final minutes to ice the win. “Even in the first half, we lacked a little bit of heart tonight,” said Anderson. “You’ve got to fight through those things, and I didn’t think we did a very good job of fighting tonight.”

        In the other semi, top-seeded Simon Fraser thrashed 4th-seeded Calgary 87-56. The top-ranked and top-seeded Clan built a 51-25 lead at the half and played its bench most of the second in the romp. SFU held the visiting Dinos to 43.1% field goal shooting (22-51) and out-rebounded the visitors 41-23. “Our coach told us at the beginning of the year he would not have bet money on us making it back to nationals, but we’re a million miles from November,” said fifth-year senior Jessica Kaczowka, who led the Clan with 24-points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes of action. “We are very confident in our ability and we are very comfortable with where we are right now.” Calgary entered the game as the top three-point shooting team in Canada West but SFU had the best defense, and it forced the Dinos to miss all five of its three-point shots. “We didn’t give them many open shots on the arc tonight,” continued Kaczowka. “I thought Dani (Langford) and Maren (Corrigal) really wore them down they played so hard.” Clan coach Bruce Langford said “we had a lot of energy on defense tonight, we worked really, really hard. The players fed off each other and did a great job of covering for each other.” SFU got 15-points and seven rebounds from Morgan McLaughlin and 12-points from Jen Macleod. Langford had 11-points and seven assists while Corrigal had eight points and 10-assists. Calgary forwards Jessica Foltinek and Angela Robson had 10 points each for the Dinos.

        In the bronze medal match, Victoria defeated Calgary 56-55 to earn Canada West’s final berth at the nationals. The momentum seesawed all game. Calgary led 29-28 at the half after ripping down 23 offensive boards to Victoria’s 9. The Vikes also played most of the first half with Canada West defensive players of the year Lindsay Anderson in early foul trouble. Victoria’s Krystal O’Byrne said Calgary posts Angela Robson and Jessica Foltinek were a force. “They were very strong. It was two desperate teams, and we both wanted to get there.” The teams exchanged runs, and the Vikes held a 40-30 lead in the first five minutes of the second half. They took advantage of five steals and six Calgary turnovers in the first four minutes. The Dinos rallied to knot the score at 50 and led 55-52 with four minutes to play. The Vikes hunkered down, missed shots, but battled for six offensive rebounds, maintaining possession while keeping the Dinos away from the hoop. Dani Everitt gave the Vikes the go-ahead jumper with a minute to play. Calgary got a defensive board with 24 seconds to play and headed down for the winning basket. But Foltinek tripped while in possession of the ball. It bounced out of her hands and out of bounds, and the Vikes hung on until time ran out. “I think it was the best kind of game to be a part of when you win, and the worst kind if you lose,” said Everitt, who finished with 13 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals. Lindsay Anderson led Victoria with 13. Anna Bekkering led Calgary with 13. Tanya Hautala and Jessica Foltinek, who also pulled down nine rebounds, scored 12 points each. The Dinos (coached by Shawnee Harle) also included Julie Smulders, Lindsay Maundrell, Shari Jonker, Cory Bekkering, Jade Jenzen, Angie Robson, Alison Leathwood, Katherine Adams, Tanya Cottrell, Carli Lagore and Alison Bekkering.

        In the final, Simon Fraser pounded Winnipeg 76-50 to capture their second straight Canada West crown. Simon Fraser went on a 26-5 run over the final seven minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half to take control of the game. The teams were tied 20-20 before the Clan went on its run and took the fight out of the visiting Wesmen. Simon Fraser held Winnipeg to 14-54 (.259) from the floor. The Clan led 35-22 at the break. “We work hard at our defence in practice and it pays off in the games,” said junior forward Jennifer Macleod. “Our defence has a lot of confidence and we are really focused on doing the little things well. …We are the type of players who are constantly challenging ourselves to get better and we are peaking at the right time. I’m really proud of the way we are playing.” Coach Bruce Langford noted “this was a very important game for us because we have a lot of momentum heading into nationals and we should go in as the No. 1 seed.” Jessica Kaczowka said “our coach told us at the beginning of the year he would not have bet money on us making it back to nationals, but we’re a million miles from November. We are very confident in our ability and we are very comfortable with where we are right now. I was sitting on the bench at the end and it kind of sunk in that we’re going back to nationals. I realized right then that we have a lot of big games left to be played.” Playing in her final home game, fifth-year centre Kaczowka scored 20 on 7-8 from the floor and 9 boards. Forward Morgan McLaughlin had 12 on 3-3 from the floor, 6-6 from the line and 5 boards. SFU out-rebounded Winnipeg 33-27. Jennifer Macleod scored 13, Kelsie Thu 7, Dani Langford 6, Laura Van De Boogaard 5, Julia Wilson 9 and Maren Corrigal 2. The Clan shot 26-48 (.542) from the floor, 3-11 from the arc, 21-28 from the line and garnered 33 boards, 16 fouls, 17 assists, 16 turnovers, 6 blocks and 10 steals. They led 35-22 at the half. JoAnne Wells and Janet Wells each scored 11 for Winnipeg. Jae Pirnie added 8, Uzo Asagwara 7, Angela Willerton 4, Kate Daniels 4, Catherine Peters 2, Val Carson 2 and Charmaine Izzard 1. The Wesmen hit 14-54 from the floor, 3-13 from the arc, 19-21 from the line and garnered 23 fouls, 27 rebounds, 8 assists, 18 turnovers, 2 blocks and 5 steals. Simon Fraser had 38 points in the paint to Winnipeg’s 16, 19 points off turnovers to Winnipeg’s 14. The Wesmen had 13 second chance points, while SFU had 10.

        In June, Brandon appointed Les Berry as head coach to replace Tami Pennell, who opted not to renew her coaching contract. Berry was “very excited about the opportunity that has presented itself. I look at this as a fresh and new start for Brandon and for the women’s team. The last couple of years have been tough for the women with the conference that they are in, which is certainly the toughest conference in the country for women’s basketball, but in my mind, it is just a matter of time before we turn things around for the Lady Bobcats. I’m determined to get the job done and am prepared to do everything I can to make sure we compete day in and day out.” Berry was previous head coach of the University of King’s College women and assistant coach with the St. Mary’s U men. In 2000, Berry was named Basketball Nova Scotia’s Coach of the Year.

        The bronze medalist Victoria Vikings: Lindsay Anderson; Dani Everitt; Jania Mynott; Krystal O’Byrne; Beckie MacDonald; Lindsay Hewson; Jennifer Diana; Andrea Van Koll; Aimee Faulk; Jessica Breitenfeld; Jennifer Anderberg; Krystal O’Byrne; coach Brian Cheng; assistant Lindsay Brooke; assistant Tara McMillan; manager Karen Wainman; trainer Melanie Morgan; trainer Mike Veiveiros

        The runner-up Winnipeg Wesmen: JoAnne Wells; Janet Wells; Sally Kaznica; Angela Willerton; Heidi Schwartz; Catherine Peters; Val Carson; Uzo Asagwara; Melanie Talastas; Charmaine Izzard; Jae Pirnie; Kate Daniels; Heather Thompson; Pam Nowell; coach Tanya McKay; assistant Jamie Hickson; assistant Erin Soroko; assistant Deb May; trainer Lori Froese; manager Jim Schrofel; therapist Ben Trunzo; consultant Dale Bradshaw; academic councilor George Kennedy

        The champion Simon Fraser Clan: Jessica Kaczowka; Morgan McLaughlin; Jennifer Macleod; Dani Langford; Maren Corrigal; Kelsie Thu; Jennifer McElgunn; Laura van den Boogaard; Julia Wilson; Courtney Brown; Devon Campbell; Lara Monk; coach Bruce Langford; assistant Lani Kramer; assistant Karen Edgell; trainer Laurie Freebairn