Field set for women’s basketball nationals
Dani Sinclair said she knows how she would feel if the situation were reversed, although some might call it the expected mind game before the real game.
Sinclair’s host University of Victoria Vikes have drawn the top-ranked Carleton Ravens in the U Sports women’s basketball national championship tournament quarter-finals Thursday at 8 p.m. on Ken and Kathy Shields Court in CARSA gym.
Sinclair believes her team’s No. 8 ranking comes with a caveat because that lowest seeding brings with it the backing of the home crowd on floorboards the Vikes know well. That is the intangible. “There is no pressure on us, really,” said Sinclair, indicating it’s all on the heavily favoured Ravens.
“The crowd will be an advantage and will help us for sure. The atmosphere will be unlike anything our girls have experienced and they are excited. We tried not to get too excited earlier, but it is suddenly now very real. Our players are confident and ready to go.”
Carleton defeated the Queen’s Gaels 49-41 in the Ontario final over the weekend, with that province having two berths, and both teams advancing to UVic. The third-ranked Gaels open the national tournament at noon Thursday against the Atlantic-champion and sixth-seed Cape Breton Capers.
The Canada West and defending national champion Saskatchewan Huskies, guided by Canadian Rio Olympic team head coach Lisa Thomaidis, are the second seed and play the seventh-seed wild card-entry Laval Rouge et Or in the quarter-finals at 2 p.m. The Quebec champion McGill Martlets, ranked fourth, meet the Canada West runner-up and wildcard fifth-seed Regina Cougars at 6 p.m.
The consolation side plays Friday. The semifinals are Saturday at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The bronze-medal game is Sunday at 10 a.m. and the championship game at 1 p.m.
The semifinals and final are nationally broadcast on Sportsnet 360.
Carleton is best known for its men’s hoops dynasty but looks to be diversifying as the Ravens won their first Ontario women’s title. They have won 20 consecutive games heading into the national tournament.
“[Ravens] are a classic, playoff-style basketball team,” said Sinclair.
“They are very good defensively, No. 1 in Ontario in fewest points allowed, and they are good at rebounding. They are physical and tough. We are going to have to match their physicality and win the rebounding battle. We also need to play at pace and push the ball in transition.”
The Vikes were 12-8 in the Canada West regular season and 3-2 in the playoffs, but did not make it to the conference Final Four, so are the only team of the national eight who did not play over the weekend.
“We are not as banged up and tired as the other teams,” said Sinclair.
IN THE PAINT: Shootingguard Jenna Krug of the Vikes was named Canada West winner of the Sylvia Sweeney Award for best combining playing ability with scholastic achievement (8.3 grade-point average out of nine) and community service. … Paige Thomson of the Vikes, who underwent two surgeries in the past 12 months due to a heart condition, won the Tracy MacLeod Award as the Canada West player best exemplifying determination and perseverance. … Guard Scott Kellum of the Vikes, a native of Washington state, was named Canada West men’s basketball rookie of the year for his promising freshman debut. … UBC’S Conor Morgan, the versatile forward out of Mount Douglas who dominated the conference in regular season, was named men’s Canada West MVP.