February 27, 2009
LANCERS, GEE-GEES VIE FOR OUA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TITLE
HAMILTON, Ont. - One team is in unfamiliar territory. The other is a Cinderella story with no sign of Midnight on the horizon.
Two clubs from opposite ends of the province will close the 800 kilometres of distance between them to settle the 2008-09 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Women's Basketball Championship, presented by Investors Group at the St. Denis Centre in Windsor, Ont.
The No. 2 nationally-ranked Windsor Lancers have been on a tear this basketball season, winning 23 of 24 OUA games, including an 82-61 defeat of the arch-rival Western Mustangs on Wednesday to win the school's first ever West Division championship. As a result, they have an opportunity to win Windsor's first ever OUA women's basketball title.
Standing in the way is an upstart Ottawa Gee-Gees team who won a provincial title back in 2003-04. Coming off a 3-19 record one season ago, many expected it to be a rebuilding season under first-year head coach Andy Sparks (pictured). But Ottawa rebounded, going 15-7 during the 2008-09 regular season to clinch second place in the East Division. Following a victory over the Carleton Ravens that ended a four-game losing streak against their cross-town rivals, the Gee-Gees upset the first place Toronto Varsity Blues on the road 68-55 in the East Division final. The East and West Division finals were presented by Wilson Sports Equipment Canada.
Ottawa may still be considered an underdog against the Lancers, but it was the Gee-Gees who handed Windsor its only loss of the season, a 62-60 outcome on Nov. 8 in the border city. The Lancers will no doubt be looking for a measure of revenge on Saturday.
Two West Division First Team All-Stars will be on the court against the Gee-Gees, including third-year guard Dranadia Roc (Montreal, Que.) and fourth-year forward Alisa Wulff (Pickering, Ont.). Not surprisingly, these two players were dominant in their playoff win against the Mustangs, with Roc leading the way with 23 points, and Wulff nearly matching this total with 21. Windsor forward Bojana Kovacevic (Windsor, Ont.) is a member of the West All-Rookie team.
Ottawa is led by OUA Second Team All-Star Emilie Morasse (Quebec City, Que.), a second-year guard who scored 11 points against the Varsity Blues. Veteran guards Kelly Weir (Ottawa, Ont.) and Allison Forbes (Riverview, N.B.) scored 14 points each.
Both teams shut down the top players in OUA in their previous games. East Division Player of the Year Alaine Hutton (Hamilton, Ont.) of the Varsity Blues was limited to just five points by the Gee-Gees, while West Division Player of the Year Bess Lennox (Ottawa, Ont.) of the Western Mustangs saw her 12-game double-double streak come to an end with a four-point, five-rebound performance against the Lancers.
Both Sparks and Lancers head coach Chantal Vallée have earned the respect of their peers, being named OUA Coach of the Year in their respective divisions. Vallée is in her fourth season with Windsor.
Regardless of who wins the OUA banner on Saturday night, both teams will represent the conference at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Women's Basketball Championship from March 6 to 8 in Regina, Sask.
Tip off of the OUA final is set for 7 p.m., following the men's basketball quarter-final game between the McMaster Marauders and Windsor Lancers beginning at 5 p.m. Both games will be available on television in the Windsor-Leamington market on TVCOGECO and via webcast on SSNCanada.ca.
OUA women's basketball is also sponsored by belairdirect. Car Insurance, Pioneer Petroleums and Pizza Pizza.
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
Two clubs from opposite ends of the province will close the 800 kilometres of distance between them to settle the 2008-09 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Women's Basketball Championship, presented by Investors Group at the St. Denis Centre in Windsor, Ont.
The No. 2 nationally-ranked Windsor Lancers have been on a tear this basketball season, winning 23 of 24 OUA games, including an 82-61 defeat of the arch-rival Western Mustangs on Wednesday to win the school's first ever West Division championship. As a result, they have an opportunity to win Windsor's first ever OUA women's basketball title.
Standing in the way is an upstart Ottawa Gee-Gees team who won a provincial title back in 2003-04. Coming off a 3-19 record one season ago, many expected it to be a rebuilding season under first-year head coach Andy Sparks (pictured). But Ottawa rebounded, going 15-7 during the 2008-09 regular season to clinch second place in the East Division. Following a victory over the Carleton Ravens that ended a four-game losing streak against their cross-town rivals, the Gee-Gees upset the first place Toronto Varsity Blues on the road 68-55 in the East Division final. The East and West Division finals were presented by Wilson Sports Equipment Canada.
Ottawa may still be considered an underdog against the Lancers, but it was the Gee-Gees who handed Windsor its only loss of the season, a 62-60 outcome on Nov. 8 in the border city. The Lancers will no doubt be looking for a measure of revenge on Saturday.
Two West Division First Team All-Stars will be on the court against the Gee-Gees, including third-year guard Dranadia Roc (Montreal, Que.) and fourth-year forward Alisa Wulff (Pickering, Ont.). Not surprisingly, these two players were dominant in their playoff win against the Mustangs, with Roc leading the way with 23 points, and Wulff nearly matching this total with 21. Windsor forward Bojana Kovacevic (Windsor, Ont.) is a member of the West All-Rookie team.
Ottawa is led by OUA Second Team All-Star Emilie Morasse (Quebec City, Que.), a second-year guard who scored 11 points against the Varsity Blues. Veteran guards Kelly Weir (Ottawa, Ont.) and Allison Forbes (Riverview, N.B.) scored 14 points each.
Both teams shut down the top players in OUA in their previous games. East Division Player of the Year Alaine Hutton (Hamilton, Ont.) of the Varsity Blues was limited to just five points by the Gee-Gees, while West Division Player of the Year Bess Lennox (Ottawa, Ont.) of the Western Mustangs saw her 12-game double-double streak come to an end with a four-point, five-rebound performance against the Lancers.
Both Sparks and Lancers head coach Chantal Vallée have earned the respect of their peers, being named OUA Coach of the Year in their respective divisions. Vallée is in her fourth season with Windsor.
Regardless of who wins the OUA banner on Saturday night, both teams will represent the conference at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Women's Basketball Championship from March 6 to 8 in Regina, Sask.
Tip off of the OUA final is set for 7 p.m., following the men's basketball quarter-final game between the McMaster Marauders and Windsor Lancers beginning at 5 p.m. Both games will be available on television in the Windsor-Leamington market on TVCOGECO and via webcast on SSNCanada.ca.
OUA women's basketball is also sponsored by belairdirect. Car Insurance, Pioneer Petroleums and Pizza Pizza.
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
