Lethbridge College is proud to host the RE/MAX 2017 ACAC Women's Basketball Championships from March 2 to 4 in the Val Matteotti Gymnasium. Here are the results from the third and final day of play.
Gold medal game
St. Mary’s Lightning (South #2) 54
Lethbridge College Kodiaks (South #1) 85
One thing was for certain heading into the gold medal game of the RE/MAX 2017 ACAC Women’s Basketball Championship – the winner would come from southern Alberta. The hosts from Lethbridge College were looking to finish off an undefeated ACAC season, while the second seed from the south, the St. Mary’s Lightning, were hoping to play giant killer.
While the Lightning (18-6) showed flashes early, it was the dynamic offense and relentless defence of the Kodiaks (24-0) was too much, as Lethbridge College earned its second conference championship in three years with a 85-54 triumph. The win caps one of the greatest seasons in ACAC history as the Kodiaks followed up a second-straight undefeated regular season with the 13th conference championship in college history. The Kodiaks will go on to represent the ACAC at the CCAA national championship beginning March 16 in Edmonton, hosted by NAIT.
The Kodiaks wasted no time jumping out to an early lead, putting together a 10-3 run late in the opening quarter, highlighted by back-to-back three pointers from Shantaya Strebel and ACAC south division first team all-star Sunder West, to take an 18-13 lead after one quarter. West continued to push the pace in the second quarter, opening with another three as part of her 15 first half points. A 7-2 run by the Lightning, including an Abby Gibb triple, closed the Lightning back within four, but the Kodiaks ripped off a 14-2 run just before the half to take a 43-29 lead into the break.
The third quarter is where the nationally second-ranked Kodiaks took total control, dividing the offense around as they outscored the Lightning 26-9, to lead 67-38 heading into the final frame. Lethbridge’s Brad Karren, the ACAC south division coach of the year, turned the keys over to his bench late in the game as the Kodiaks rolled to the 85-54 final.
Sunder West, who was named the tournament MVP, had a game-high 25 points for the Kodiaks. Emma Lowry had a triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, while ACAC player of the year Logan Moncks added 12 points. Kassandra Baptiste led St. Mary’s with 16 points, while Mary Jean Ritchie had a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
Players of the game:
St. Mary’s - #10 Mary Jean Ritchie (10pts, 15reb, 2ast)
Lethbridge - #22 Emma Lowry (20pts, 11reb, 10ast)
Tournament MVP:
Sunder West - Lethbridge
Tournament all-star team:
Emma Lowry - Lethbridge
Montana Romeril – St. Mary’s
Laura Belisle – St. Mary’s
Alexa Tan – SAIT
Kennedy Werre – Medicine Hat
Bronze medal game
Medicine Hat Rattlers (South #4) 39
SAIT Trojans (South #3) 57
Some serious bragging rights were on the line in the bronze medal match of the RE/MAX 2017 ACAC Women’s Basketball Championship, between south division rivals Medicine Hat College and SAIT.
The Medicine Hat Rattlers (12-12), who shocked the conference in the first round by defeating north division top-seed NAIT, ran out of steam, as the Trojans (16-8) stormed to a 57-39 win and the ACAC bronze medal.
The Rattlers jumped out to an early lead, closing the opening quarter on a 10-2 run to go up 13-12 after one quarter, led by ACAC south division first team all-star Kennedy Werre, who scored a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds in the first quarter alone. In the second, SAIT showed its might, led by ACAC south division second team all-star Alicia Tan who kicked off a 14-2 run with a three pointer, and her sister, ACAC rookie of the year Alexa Tan, who capped that same run as SAIT led 32-26 at half.
In the third quarter, the Trojans showed a stifling defensive effort, outscoring the Rattlers 15-3 to take a 47-29 lead into the final frame. In the fourth quarter, both teams played it even, each scoring 10 points as the Trojans won the ACAC bronze medal with a 57-39 triumph. SAIT’s Alicia and Alexa Tan tied for the game’s top-scorer with 15 points each. Werre led the Rattlers with 12 points and 17 rebounds.
Players of the game:
Medicine Hat - #4 Courtney Henry (8pts, 2reb, 1ast)
SAIT - #34 Melissa Wooley (9pts, 3reb, 3ast)
Fifth place game
Concordia Thunder (North #2) 61
NAIT Ooks (North #1) 70
Two long-time Edmonton rivals were playing for pride to open the final day of the RE/MAX 2017 ACAC Women’s basketball championship, as Concordia, the north’s second seed, battled NAIT, the top qualifier from the north.
It was a wild back-and-forth game that saw six lead changes before NAIT (25-2) persevered late for a 71-60 win over the Thunder (19-8).
NAIT, who will host the CCAA national championships later this month, opened the first big lead of the game, going on a 13-2 run, highlighted by Katie Waring’s three-pointer. But Concordia was able to close the gap and trailed just 20-15 after one quarter. In the second, the Ooks again charged out in front, opening a 10 point advantage, but again the Thunder did not go quietly. Lacey Weddle hit back-to-back three pointers as part of a 14-2 run, as Concordia briefly took a two point lead. NAIT was able to re-group and hit halftime with a 32-29 lead.
In the third, the Thunder used an early 8-0 run to re-gain the lead, but this NAIT responded, with Leah Vandenboogaard’s three pointer putting the Ooks back in front, as they led 52-48 through three quarters. The back-and-forth action continued in the final frame, as Nakita Newman’s three kick-started a 7-0 run that gave Concordia a 59-58 lead. However, NAIT had the final push necessary to claim the win, as back-to-back threes by Cassidy Taal and Shea-Lynn Noyes allowed the Ooks to close the game on a 12-2 run and take the 70-61 triumph, claiming fifth place in the championship. Hurlburt and Noyes each had 12 points to lead the Ooks in scoring, while the Thunder’s Nakita Newman poured in a game-high 18 points.
Players of the game:
Concordia - #5 Nakita Newman (18pts, 9reb, 5ast)
NAIT - #7 Leah Vandenboogaard (6pts, 5reb, 3ast)