2012 Subway AUS WomenÕs Basketball Championship Preview
The 2012 Subway AUS Women’s Basketball championship will be held at the StFX Oland Centre in Antigonish, NS from March 2nd- 4th. Acadia, Cape Breton, Saint Mary’s, Memorial, StFX and Dalhousie will be competing for the AUS championship crown as well as a chance to represent the conference at the CIS national championship in Calgary from March 16th-19th. The second place finisher will advance to the CIS regional qualifying tournament in Ottawa March 9-11th.
2012 Subway AUS Women’s Basketball Championship Schedule:
Friday, March 2nd
Quarterfinal #1, 6:00 pm: Memorial (4) vs.StFX (5)
Quarterfinal #2, 8:00 pm: Saint Mary’s (3) vs Dalhousie (6)
Saturday, March 3rd
Semi-final #1, 6:00 pm: Acadia (1) vs Winner of Quarterfinal #1
Semi-final #2, 8:00 pm: Cape Breton (2) vs Winner of Quarterfinal #2
Sunday, March 4th
Championship Game, 2:00 pm: Semi-final Winners
TEAM PREVIEWS
FIRST PLACE: ACADIA AXEWOMEN
17-3 record with 46 points
10-0 home record and 7-3 away record
Key Players:
Emma Duinker: 5th in AUS conference scoring, averaging 16.7 points per game
Kristy Moore: 7th in AUS conference scoring, averaging 15.1 points per game
Abbey Duinker: 10th in AUS conference scoring, averaging 13.5 points per game
Team Stats:
First in AUS in blocked shots (61) and defensive rebounds (27.35/game)
Third in CIS in points per game (80.0) and fourth in three point percentage (37.2)
Acadia head coach, Bev Greenlaw:
“We think of ourselves as a team that works and plays hard every night out, and that stays together. We just try to compete hard and honestly, as a team.”
SECOND PLACE: CAPE BRETON CAPERS
15-5 record with 42 points
9-2 home record and 6-3 away record
Key Players:
Cassie Cooke: 2nd in CIS and AUS conference scoring, averaging 23.6 points per game
Jahlica Kirnon: 13th in AUS conference scoring, averaging 12.0 points per game
Stephanie Toxopeus: 3rd in AUS conference offensive rebounding, averaging 3.15/game
Team Stats:
First in AUS in scoring offense (80.9 avg.) and defensive rebounding (31.8 avg.)
Second in CIS points per game (81.0) and field goals made per game (30.1)
Cape Breton head coach, Fabian McKenzie:
“We try to run what we can and we focus a lot on our offensive execution. We have been up and down at the defensive end which is a bit of a concern heading into this weekend. Hopefully we play well enough to make it to Sunday and then it is a 50-50 shot to win an AUS Banner.”
THIRD PLACE: SAINT MARY'S HUSKIES
12-8 record with 34 points
7-3 home record and 5-5 away record
Key Players:
Justine Colley: 1st in CIS and AUS conference scoring, averaging 24.4 points per game
Susanne Canvin: 12th in AUS conference scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game
Samantha Martin: 15th in AUS conference three point percentage (.299)
Team Stats:
Second in AUS in blocked shots (60) and turnover margin (+3.45)
Third in CIS in turnovers per game (16.1) and sixth in free throws made per game (15.6)
Saint Mary’s head coach Scott Munro:
“We are hoping to make a run in the AUS tournament. Keys for us will be our ability to defend in the half court and rebound the basketball. Offensively we will need to be efficient. It will be playoff style basketball this weekend and it should be a fairly wide open tournament. The team that puts together two or three days of their best basketball will win.”
FOURTH PLACE: MEMORIAL SEA-HAWKS
10-10 record with 30 points
5-5 home record and 5-5 away record
Key Players:
Ally Forsey: 6th in AUS conference scoring, averaging 16.2 points per game
Robyn O’Rielly: 11th in AUS conference scoring, averaging 12.8 points per game
Megan Robinson: 3rd in AUS conference in assists, averaging 4.05/game
Team Stats:
First in AUS in free throw (.776) and three point percentage (.386)
First in CIS in free throw percentage, three point percentage and assists per game (20.5)
Memorial head coach, Doug Partridge:
“We like to get up and down the floor and play inside and out through our big post Alexandria Forsey. We have to play calm and play with the right pace and protect the basketball if we hope to advance.”
FIFTH PLACE: StFX X-WOMEN
10-10 record with 26 points
6-3 home record and 4-7 away record
Key Players:
Vanessa Pickard: 10th in CIS scoring and 4th in AUS conference scoring, averaging 17.2 points per game
Donisha Young: 9th in AUS conference scoring, averaging 13.7 points per game
Rebecca Sheehan: 1st in AUS conference in steals per game (2.80) and 2nd in AUS minutes played (34.60)
Team Stats:
Second in AUS conference in steals (178) and field goal percentage defense (.383)
Seventh in CIS in assists per game (16.1) and eighth in points per game (72.5)
StFX head coach, Matt Skinn:
“We are excited to be the hosts of the AUS Championships. Antigonish and StFX are big supporters of athletics and we are pleased to welcome all of the other participants to the Oland Center for a great weekend of basketball.”
“Our plan is to play hard, defend and finish plays, and bring our best game when we hit the floor Friday. We have a resilient group of players who have fought hard this season, and we expect to bring our best to the court this weekend.”
SIXTH PLACE: DALHOUSIE TIGERS
8-12 record with 22 points
5-4 home record and 3-8 away record
Key Players:
Keisha Brown: 8th in AUS conference scoring, averaging. 14.6 points per game
Anna Von Maltzahn: 1st in AUS conference in rebounding, averaging 9.9/game
Alex Legge: 1st in AUS conference in field goal percentage (.540%)
Team Stats:
First in AUS conference in offensive rebounding (846) and fourth in field goal percentage defense (.401)
Fifth in CIS in total rebounds per game (41.9) and assists per game (17.1)
Dalhousie head coach, Anna Stammberger:
“We are not a big team, so we will have to work on our defensive stops. We are small and athletic and we will have to run with the ball and hopefully get some breaks.”