Familiar foe in final eight
photo by Alex Smyth
No escape: After losing to Windsor in the OUA championship, Ottawa will have to play them again at nationals.
Women’s basketball team to open nationals against Windsor
ANOTHER EXCITING SEASON of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) women’s basketball has come to an end, and now is the time to decide on a national champion. This year’s CIS women’s basketball championship will be hosted by McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., March 12–14. The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (12-10) enter the tournament as the seventh seed and have the misfortune of drawing the second-seeded Windsor Lancers (22-1)—who soundly beat Ottawa in the Ontario championship—in the quarterfinals. The Fulcrum previews the rest of the field.
1. Simon Fraser Clan (17-1, 4-0 playoffs)
Status: Canada West champions
The Clan are the defending CIS champions and once again are the heavy favourites to win it all. They lead the country with 83.7 average points per game and have no major flaws. An interesting side story is that this may be the Clan’s last chance to win a CIS title as they begin their transition into the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
2. Windsor Lancers (21-1, 3-0 playoffs)
Status: Ontario University Athletics champions
The Lancers were the cream of the crop in Ontario this year with a sterling record of 21-1. Windsor is known for balanced scoring with six players averaging seven points or more per game. They are also the top three-point shooting team in the tournament as they have shot 35 per cent from downtown on the season.
3. Saskatchewan Huskies (14-6, 3-1 playoffs)
Status: Canada West bronze medallists
The Huskies qualified for this tournament by edging out the University of Alberta in the Canada West bronze medal game, becoming the second team from the conference to make nationals. The Huskies are peaking at the right time; after a 7-5 start, they have rebounded in a big way with seven wins in their last eight games.
4. Regina Cougars (16-4, 3-1 playoffs)
Status: Canada West finalists
The Cougars, last year’s hosts and CIS finalists, are back again on the prowl for a second CIS championship. They are strong in the paint, as they lead the nation with 44.4 rebounds per match. Canada West teams have won the CIS title for the past 18 seasons—Regina has what it takes to become the next western team to win it all.
5. Laval Rouge et Or (13-3, 2-0 playoffs)
Status: Quebec Student Sport Federation champions
By finishing first in Quebec for the 10th time in 11 seasons, Laval has once again earned an entry into the national finals. They are not a high-scoring team with just 67.9 points-per-game (19th nationally), but the Rouge et Or always seem to find a way to win. It would not be shocking if Laval were to advance far into the nationals.
6. Cape Breton Capers (19-1, 2-0 playoffs)
Status: Atlantic University Sport (AUS) champions
Last season’s CIS consolation final winners, the Capers could potentially be the dark horse of the tournament. The tiny school, with a population of around 3,000 students, dominated AUS competition with their sole loss being a one-point overtime defeat on the road.
7. Ottawa Gee-Gees (12-10, 3-1 playoffs)
Status: OUA finalists
The Gee-Gees have made a surprising run to the nationals for the second year in a row after upsetting Ryerson and Carleton in road playoff games. Ottawa is not a favourite to win; perhaps the lack of pressure will result in an upset victory or two.
8. McMaster Marauders (13-9, 0-1 playoffs)
Status: Automatic entry as tournament hosts
The Marauders are a couple of years removed from their glory years in 2006 and 2008 when they won OUA titles. Though they are well rested (they haven’t played since Feb. 24) and have home-court advantage, the Marauders are considered long shots as they were defeated in their lone playoff match.
