2010 CIS women’s basketball championship: Reigning champion SFU once again tournament favourite

OTTAWA (CIS) – For the third straight season and the fourth time in six years, the Simon Fraser Clan go into the CIS women’s basketball championship as tournament favourites.

Championship website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wbkb  

The seedings were announced Sunday for the 2010 national tournament set to get under way on Friday at McMaster University in Hamilton. The gold-medal final of the eight-team championship is scheduled for next Sunday at 3 p.m., live on TSN2.

Cable 14 will have regional broadcasts of all main-bracket duels leading up to the title match, with SSN Canada webcasting all the main-bracket contests.

Rounding out the seedings behind defending champion Simon Fraser are the No. 2 Windsor Lancers (OUA champions), No. 3 Saskatchewan Huskies (Canada West bronze medallists), No. 4 Regina Cougars (Canada West finalists), No. 5 Laval Rouge et Or (QSSF champions), No. 6 Cape Breton Capers (AUS champions), No. 7 Ottawa Gee-Gees (OUA finalists), and No. 8 McMaster Marauders (hosts).

Simon Fraser begins its title defence against host McMaster Friday at 6 p.m. in the third quarter-final duel.

The other first-round match-ups pit Windsor against Ottawa at 1 p.m., Saskatchewan against Cape Breton at 3 p.m., and Regina against Laval at 8 p.m.

In their 10th and final CIS season (before joining the NCAA next year), the top-seeded Clan are looking for a fifth Bronze Baby trophy as national champion, including their first triumph back in 2002 when the tournament was held at McMaster. SFU has never captured back-to-back CIS banners however, its other titles coming in 2005, 2007 and 2009.

The Clan enter the championship with a stellar 28-1 overall record against CIS opponents this season, including a 20-point win (84-64) over Saskatchewan in the Canada West semifinals and a 30-point victory (92-62) over Regina in the conference final.

The CIS all-Canadians and major award winners will be unveiled at a banquet on Thursday evening.

Note: A complete championship preview will follow on Tuesday.

SEEDINGS

1. Simon Fraser Clan (CWUAA champions: 17-1 regular season / 4-0 playoffs)
2. Windsor Lancers (OUA champions: 21-1 regular season / 3-0 playoffs)
3. Saskatchewan Huskies (CWUAA bronze medallists: 14-6 regular season / 3-1 playoffs)
4. Regina Cougars (CWUAA finalists: 16-4 regular season / 3-1 playoffs)
5. Laval Rouge et Or (QSSF champions: 13-3 regular season / 2-0 playoffs)
6. Cape Breton Capers (AUS champions: 19-1 regular season / 2-0 playoffs)
7. Ottawa Gee-Gees (OUA finalists: 12-10 regular season / 3-1 playoffs)
8. McMaster Marauders (Hosts: 13-9 regular season / 0-1 playoffs)

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Thursday, March 11

18:30 All-Canadian Banquet (Crowne Plaza Hotel – Royal Pavilion Room)

Friday, March 12

13:00 Quarter-final #1: No. 2 Windsor vs. No. 7 Ottawa (Cable 14 & SSN Canada)
15:00 Quarter-final #2: No. 3 Saskatchewan vs. No. 6 Cape Breton (Cable 14 & SSN Canada)
18:00 Quarter-final #3: No. 1 Simon Fraser vs. No. 8 McMaster (Cable 14 & SSN Canada)
20:00 Quarter-final #4: No. 4 Regina vs. No. 5 Laval (Cable 14 & SSN Canada)

Saturday, March 13

13:00 Consolation #1: Loser QF #1 vs. Loser QF #2
15:00 Consolation #2: Loser QF #3 vs. Loser QF #4
18:00 Semifinal #1: Winner QF #1 vs. Winner QF #2 (Cable 14 & SSN Canada)
20:00 Semifinal #2: Winner QF #3 vs. Winner QF #4 (Cable 14 & SSN Canada)

Sunday, March 14

10:00 5th place
12:00 Bronze medal (Cable 14 & SSN Canada)
15:00 Championship final (TSN2 & SSN Canada)


-CIS-