February 17, 2009
OUA PLAYOFF PUSH: WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
HAMILTON, Ont. - It is one and done time in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) women's basketball.
Eight teams will clash Wednesday night knowing that they are one loss from seeing the 2008-09 season come to a crashing halt. Included in this group are the McMaster Marauders (14-8), who will host the Guelph Gryphons (9-13) in a West Division showdown.
The OUA women's basketball playoffs are presented by Investors Group.
These two clubs met on Valentine's Day in Guelph, with McMaster winning 64-58. The Marauders had a balanced attack, with fourth-year point guard Taylor Smith (Hamilton, Ont.) netting a game-high 14 points. Other contributions for McMaster came from second-year centre Taylor Chiarot (Hamilton, Ont.) with 12 points and Sara Pilon-Bignell (Ancaster, Ont.) with 10.
McMaster swept the two-game season series against Guelph, but the Gryphons played the Marauders tough in their first game, a 58-54 outcome on Jan. 24 at the Burridge Gymnasium in Hamilton, Ont. Gryphons third-year forward Rachel Hancock (Ingersoll, Ont.) scored a game-high 19 points in a losing effort. Teammate Kris Yallin (Port Colborne, Ont.) finished in the Top 10 in OUA scoring this season with 306 points.
The other West Division opening round game has the Lakehead Thunderwolves (11-11) visiting the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (11-11). The Golden Hawks split their regular season games at Lakehead earlier this season.
Thunderwolves third-year point guard Tasia McKenna (Timberlea, N.S.) burned the Golden Hawks for 29 combined points in back-to-back meetings in late January. She finished the season as the OUA co-leader in three-point baskets with 61. Laurier post player Renata Adamczyk (Dundas, Ont.) was ninth in OUA scoring with 309 points during the regular season, and tied for seventh in rebounding with 176 boards.
In the East Division, the Queen's Gaels (7-15) will travel to Ottawa, Ont. to face the Carleton Ravens (14-8) in a battle of the birds. This is a rematch of an opening playoff game last season, in which the Ravens prevailed by a score of 67-58 in Kingston, Ont. The two teams split the regular season series in 2008-09, with each club winning on its home court.
Ravens third-year point guard Kelly Killoran (Sarnia, Ont.) had the second-best three-point shooting percentage in OUA with a success rate of 40.7 percent.
The Gaels feature one of the top scorers in OUA. Second-year point guard Brittany Moore (Hannon, Ont.) was tied for second in points with 392, an average of 17.8 per game. She is a force from downtown, finishing the regular season tied with McKenna for the OUA-lead in three-point baskets.
In the other East Division opening round game, the Ryerson Rams (9-13) head north to confront the Laurentian Lady Vees (10-12). Laurentian swept its two regular season meetings with Ryerson in 2008-09.
Lady Vees third-year forward Lisa Furchner (Sudbury, Ont.) scored a game-high 26 points against the Rams in a 74-66 win on Feb. 13 at Laurentian. Teammate Darrah Bumstead (New Hamburg, Ont.), a fourth-year forward, scored a combined 38 points and collected a combined 24 rebounds against the Rams this season.
The Rams are led by third-year point guard Lisa Goldring (Burlington, Ont.) and fifth-year guard Kaitlyn Taylor (Sydney, N.S.) who scored 29 and 25 combined points, respectively, against the Lady Vees this season.
No. 2 nationally-ranked Windsor Lancers, No. 10 Western Mustangs, Ottawa Gee-Gees and Toronto Varsity Blues all earned a bye in the first round, and will host quarter-final games tentatively scheduled for Feb. 21.
OUA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS
Wed., Feb. 18
6 p.m. Guelph @ McMaster
7 p.m. Queen's @ Carleton
7 p.m. Ryerson @ Laurentian
8 p.m. Lakehead @ Laurier
– 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.
Photo Credit: Michael P. Hall
Eight teams will clash Wednesday night knowing that they are one loss from seeing the 2008-09 season come to a crashing halt. Included in this group are the McMaster Marauders (14-8), who will host the Guelph Gryphons (9-13) in a West Division showdown.
The OUA women's basketball playoffs are presented by Investors Group.
These two clubs met on Valentine's Day in Guelph, with McMaster winning 64-58. The Marauders had a balanced attack, with fourth-year point guard Taylor Smith (Hamilton, Ont.) netting a game-high 14 points. Other contributions for McMaster came from second-year centre Taylor Chiarot (Hamilton, Ont.) with 12 points and Sara Pilon-Bignell (Ancaster, Ont.) with 10.
McMaster swept the two-game season series against Guelph, but the Gryphons played the Marauders tough in their first game, a 58-54 outcome on Jan. 24 at the Burridge Gymnasium in Hamilton, Ont. Gryphons third-year forward Rachel Hancock (Ingersoll, Ont.) scored a game-high 19 points in a losing effort. Teammate Kris Yallin (Port Colborne, Ont.) finished in the Top 10 in OUA scoring this season with 306 points.
The other West Division opening round game has the Lakehead Thunderwolves (11-11) visiting the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (11-11). The Golden Hawks split their regular season games at Lakehead earlier this season.
Thunderwolves third-year point guard Tasia McKenna (Timberlea, N.S.) burned the Golden Hawks for 29 combined points in back-to-back meetings in late January. She finished the season as the OUA co-leader in three-point baskets with 61. Laurier post player Renata Adamczyk (Dundas, Ont.) was ninth in OUA scoring with 309 points during the regular season, and tied for seventh in rebounding with 176 boards.
In the East Division, the Queen's Gaels (7-15) will travel to Ottawa, Ont. to face the Carleton Ravens (14-8) in a battle of the birds. This is a rematch of an opening playoff game last season, in which the Ravens prevailed by a score of 67-58 in Kingston, Ont. The two teams split the regular season series in 2008-09, with each club winning on its home court.
Ravens third-year point guard Kelly Killoran (Sarnia, Ont.) had the second-best three-point shooting percentage in OUA with a success rate of 40.7 percent.
The Gaels feature one of the top scorers in OUA. Second-year point guard Brittany Moore (Hannon, Ont.) was tied for second in points with 392, an average of 17.8 per game. She is a force from downtown, finishing the regular season tied with McKenna for the OUA-lead in three-point baskets.
In the other East Division opening round game, the Ryerson Rams (9-13) head north to confront the Laurentian Lady Vees (10-12). Laurentian swept its two regular season meetings with Ryerson in 2008-09.
Lady Vees third-year forward Lisa Furchner (Sudbury, Ont.) scored a game-high 26 points against the Rams in a 74-66 win on Feb. 13 at Laurentian. Teammate Darrah Bumstead (New Hamburg, Ont.), a fourth-year forward, scored a combined 38 points and collected a combined 24 rebounds against the Rams this season.
The Rams are led by third-year point guard Lisa Goldring (Burlington, Ont.) and fifth-year guard Kaitlyn Taylor (Sydney, N.S.) who scored 29 and 25 combined points, respectively, against the Lady Vees this season.
No. 2 nationally-ranked Windsor Lancers, No. 10 Western Mustangs, Ottawa Gee-Gees and Toronto Varsity Blues all earned a bye in the first round, and will host quarter-final games tentatively scheduled for Feb. 21.
OUA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS
Wed., Feb. 18
6 p.m. Guelph @ McMaster
7 p.m. Queen's @ Carleton
7 p.m. Ryerson @ Laurentian
8 p.m. Lakehead @ Laurier
– 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.
Photo Credit: Michael P. Hall
