AUS women's basektball preview

Capers gunning for 4th straight AUS hoop title, despite losing key players

The Cape Breton Capers are targeting four straight championships in AUS women’s basketball this season.
 
Fabian McKenzie’s team, which defeated St. Francis Xavier 67-53 for CIS bronze last year in Windsor, Ont., will have to overcome some sizable losses including leading scorer Kari Everett and top rebounder Denisha Haywood.
 
But a trio of fifth-year seniors — Nicole Works, Jahlica Kirnon (15.3 ppg.) and Stephanie Toxopeus — should have the Capers in contention once again.
 
"We have talent on paper, but it may take a little time to get all the pieces together," said McKenzie. "With six new faces the key priority will be blending it all together early in the season. Our goal will be like every year, win enough games to make the playoffs and then compete over three days to try and win the AUS."
 
Truro’s Works, a guard, was a second-team all-star last year and the AUS defensive player of the year. Kirnon, also a guard, made the first all-star team and Toxopeus is a seasoned six-foot-three post.
 
Other returning players are third-year forward Justine MacNeil, sophomore Kayla McCarron and second-year guard Tanira McClurkin. Sydney’s McCarron made the all-rookie team a year ago.
 
The Capers, ranked sixth in the CIS in the opening poll, reload with three U.S. transfers and a pair of AUS veterans.
 
The imports are guard Cassie Cooke from Westminster, Md., post Hope Edwards of Sierra Vista, Ariz., and guard Brittany Hollins of Capitol Heights, Md. Edwards and Hollins were teammates at Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Md.
 
Fifth-year guard Jessica Steed joins in from UNB and forward Victoria Thistle, a former AUS all-star also in her fifth year, steps in from Memorial. Timberlea’s Sarah MacDonald is the only freshman on the roster.
 
No team has won four straight AUS titles since UNB won 10 in a row from 1963 to 1972.
 
"The AUS is becoming tougher and tougher every year," said McKenzie. "I think that was represented by a third- and fourth-place finish at nationals last year. There will be a great deal of parity this year as teams have improved their lineups over the summer."
 
The regular season opens Saturday with Saint Mary’s visiting Memorial.
 
St. Francis Xavier (14-6): Matt Skinn’s team has lost four starters off last year’s national consolation finalist.
 
Ashley Stephen, the defensive player of the year and a first all-star, second-team all-star Sheryl Chisholm, Tory Anderson and Camesha Mckenzie leave holes to fill.
 
Fifth-year posts Kirsten Jones and Donisha Young and third-year guard Rebecca Sheehan will be vital to the team’s fortunes. Kiley DeLong, Jocelyn Moore and Spencer Lockhart are also back.
 
Newcomers are point guard Vanessa Pickard, a three-time New Brunswick provincial champion, Kolbi Roper, Alex Martell, ex-UBC player Lia St. Pierre, Brittney Brown, Hannah Clarke and Selali Acolaste. Anne Kiberd is a transfer from Dalhousie.
 
"We have a lot of new faces and have lost a lot of experience," said Skinn. "We will most likely start two freshmen. However, I like the potential we have with this group, and if we can develop the work ethic needed to compete on a game-to-game basis in the AUS we should be solid competitors."
 
Acadia (11-9): First all-star Emma Duinker (18.8 ppg.) leads a strong returning class at Acadia which includes her sister Abbey, who averaged 12 points per game.
 
The Duinkers also combined for 14 rebounds per game.
 
All-rookie pick Kristy Moore (13.2 ppg.), Stefanie Chapman, Lindsay Harris, Lydia Van Vilsteren, Jessica Boutilier, Jasmine Parent and Kathleen McIver are also back.
 
The new faces are Chika Chiekwe, Melissa Gottschall, Rita Leila Sibo, Maya Macatumpag, Carlie MacDonald and Jacquelyn Caravella.
 
The Axewomen went 7-1 in the exhibition season and are ranked seventh in the nation.
 
Saint Mary’s (8-12): The sky is the limit for East Preston guard Justine Colley (25.8 ppg.) as she enters her third year in the CIS.
 
The Pan Am Games athlete, a first-team all-Canadian last year, tied Kelsey Hodgson’s AUS single-season scoring record of 515 points.
 
Other key returning players are two-year starter Rebecca Nuttall and fifth-year post Susanne Canvin, who averaged a double-double with 12.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
 
Shannon Chapman, Amanda Smith, Jorunn Matthiessen and Stephanie Clarke are also back.
 
The Huskies get back guard Julie Hatcher, who is returning from a knee injury that wiped out almost her entire freshman season.
 
The Huskies have added to their depth considerably with two top local recruits in post Laura Langille and wing Sam Martin.
 
As well, the Huskies have added junior college all-star Naomie Fequiere from Florida and guard Lindsay Panchan from Toronto.
 
Dalhousie (5-15): Fifth-year shooting guard Rachael Harrison is back from surgery, former AUS all-rookie guard Keisha Brown joins in from Acadia and fifth-year forward Cailin Crosby returns from a stint in club hoops in Germany to make the Tigers much tougher out of the gate.
 
All-rookie guard Courtney Thompson, last year’s scoring leader, guard Anna von Maltzahn and centre Rachel Mays are back.
 
Newcomers for the Tigers are Tessa Stammberger, daughter of head coach Anna Stammberger, Korenda Colley, Rebecca Evans, Catherine Butts, Hannah Gonzales and Keiko Kobayakawa, who is from Japan. Former AUS all-rookie selection Robbi Daley will sit out after transferring from Saint Mary’s.
 
Departures include Patricia McNeil, Brooke Sullivan, Tia Gerwatoski, Stephanie Hiltz, Christine Ryan and Brittany Sullivan.