OCAA women's basketball preview

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO COLLEGE BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Seneca enters the season as the favourite coming off consecutive OCAA titles, but the other 15 teams in women’s basketball will have something else to say as the season tips-off. The OCAA Championship is scheduled from February 28 – March 1 at Niagara College in Welland. The all-star game will take place at Durham College in Oshawa on March 29.

2006-07 SEASON IN REVIEW

East Region Seneca 16 - 0 Algonquin 13 - 3 St. Lawrence K 11 - 5 Humber 9 - 7 Durham 8 - 8 Loyalist 6 - 10 George Brown 5 - 11 Georgian 4 - 12 Fleming P 0 – 16

West Region Algoma 9 - 3 Sheridan 9 - 3 Fanshawe 8 - 4 St. Clair 7 - 5 Niagara 6 - 6 Mohawk 3 - 9 Redeemer 0 – 12

POST SEASON RESULTS:

Qualifying Round Mohawk 41 @ St. Lawrence 74 Niagara 51 @ Humber 63 Durham 44 @ St. Clair 63 Loyalist 39 @ Fanshawe 55

OCAA CHAMPIONSHIP @ Algonquin College

Quarter-Finals St. Clair 64 @ Seneca 72 St. Lawrence 80 @ Sheridan 68 Humber 47 @ Algoma 50 Fanshawe 45 @ Algonquin 61

Semi-Finals St. Lawrence 53 @ Seneca 80 Algonquin 66 @ Algoma 69

Medal Round Gold: Seneca 75 @ Algoma 56 Bronze: Algonquin 60 @ St. Lawrence 59

TEAM PREVIEWS

WEST REGION

Algoma Thunderbirds 2006-07 Record: 9-3 (1) 2006-07 Post Season Record: 2-1 (Silver)

The Algoma Thunderbirds return from an impressive season, after coming up short against Seneca in the gold medal game last year. Notably, the team rose to first place in the West, a season after finishing last in 2005-06 at 1-11. Head coach Ed Green would like to see the same success as last year and make Algoma a constant constant contender in OCAA Women’s Basketball.

The team will look to rebound after losing last year’s leading scorer Danielle D’Ettorre and her 26 points per game, which was the highest in the OCAA. Five rookies join the squad and five silver medalists remain from 2006-07, including Lara Stilin, the team’s top athlete.

Fanshawe Falcons 2006-07 Record: 8-4 (3) 2006-07 Post Season Record: 1-1

Things are looking up for Fanshawe, who held George Brown to just 29 points in exhibition play. In 2007-08, four Falcons return from last season, including 6-foot-2 centre Taylor Knipe, who averaged 16 points per game. Joining her are teammates Jessica Finlay, Chelsea Brown and Brooke Symons.

Nine rookies make their debut for Kevin Gordon’s team, who take aim at another playoff berth. Kaitlind Dutrizac, a 1st year guard from London has looked sharp, putting up 11 baskets in the team’s first two games, which were wins over the Niagara Knights and Sheridan Bruins. Last year they were beaten in the quarter finals by Algonquin, who went on to win the bronze medal.

Mohawk Mountaineers 2006-07 Record: 3-9 2006-07 Post Season Record: 0-1

Mohawk employs a healthy mixture of rookies and experienced veterans this season and are ready to explore new dimensions to their game that they haven’t possessed in years past. Fifth-year head coach Kelly Dunham is looking to use an up-tempo offense and have teammates play each other’s strengths.

Five players return from last year, including third year guard Lisa Marie Lavarone, who led Mountaineers in points per game with 9.33, despite only playing in six games. Leading scorer Melissa Zwolek returns to the lineup as well. Key rookies to look out for will be forwards Jacqueline Shelly and Jen Barkans, as well as guard Stacy Bourque.

Niagara Knights 2006-07 Record: 6-6 2006-07 Post Season Record: 0-1

The Knights are focused and poised and to improve on a .500 season under returning head coach Ron Lemon and also avenge their 63-51 opening playoff round loss to Humber last year. Returnees include leading scorer and first team all-star Kaitlyn McKenna (13.33 PPG) and first-team all-star guard Jessica James.

Five rookies join the squad, as they hope to emerge as West Division champions and make the provincial final in 2007-08. They appear strong in the pre-season, making their way to the championship game at the Georgian Fall Classic tournament, and defeating Durham by 25 on the 23rd of October.

Humber Hawks 2006-07 Record: 9-7 (4*) *East Region 2006-07 Post Season Record: 1-1

Humber enters the 2007-08 season with a solid record from the year before, but the team has 10 fresh faces joining the team. It will be up to Denise Perrier as coach to mould the team into one capable of winning 10 or more games. Veterans Meghan McPeak, Roxanne Plummer and Monique Faulkner, who combined to score 179 points a year ago, are the only returning players to the Hawks lineup.

The Hawks were 2-1 in exhibition, beating Georgian and George Brown thoroughly, but lost to Durham by only two points. Their defense appears strong, holding the three teams to only 117 points in those affairs. The Hawks opened up their regular season with a tough 2-point loss in Sault Ste. Marie. The Hawks also made the switch to the West Region after realignment.

Redeemer Royals 2006-07 Record: 0-12 2006-07 Post Season Record: N/A

The Royals find themselves looking nowhere but upwards, going into the season. They hope to squeeze into the playoffs and upset some high-ranked teams. Head coach Denita Dyck is optimistic Redeemer can compete with the Western colleges. They defeated George Brown and University of Toronto (Mississauga campus) in the Georgian Fall Classic last month. Key returning players are forwards Natalie Dumoulin and Aileen Hovingh. Notable rookies for the Ancaster school are guards Hannah Roukema and Katie Roth.

St. Clair Saints 2006-07 Record: 7-5 2006-07 Post Season Record: 1-1

The Saints only have three members of their 2006-07 basketball team returning for another year, but they are veterans capable to putting up big points. Brianne St. Clair, Ashley Huston and Sophina Phillips will lead the way and get them back to the post-season. The Windsor college had a solid season under head coach Jimmy Parsons, but was eliminated by the undefeated Seneca Sting in the quarter-finals last year. Gone is their highest scorer, Kati Hamilton and her 126 point campaign, so there will need to be sufficient offense from the rookies joining the squad. St. Clair won their only pre-season affair 57-39 against a school from Rochester, Michigan.

Sheridan Bruins 2006-07 Record: 9-3 (2) 2006-07 Post Season Record: 0-1

In only their third year since returning to a varsity level, the Sheridan Bruins have already established themselves as one of the strongest programs in the OCAA. The team made significant strides in 2006-07 by making it to the OCAA championship and will hope to build upon that success this year.

They have a vast array of weapons offensively and will look to play the type of strong defense that has become a staple of Sheridan basketball. Returning forward Caity Wright will be counted on for leadership, and newcomers Sarah Moxley, Hali Burns and Bojana Bejatovic will make key contributions as well.

Source: Ryan Kelly, Sheridan Athletics

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