Road to the Bronze Baby (Part 6): Regionals all set to go!

OTTAWA (CIS) – Mid-March has finally arrived and after months of exciting regular season and playoff action, conference champions have been determined along with the hosts and participating teams for the expanded CIS women’s basketball championship.

In the AUS, Cape Breton Capers (16-4) won their third straight championship in a close game against the UNB Varsity Reds (14-6). UNB nearly toppled the defending champions tying the game with only 30 seconds remaining, however CBU’s Jahlica Kirnon put the Capers ahead on their next possession to win the AUS championship.

CBU moves on to Windsor for the Final 8 while UNB will host the East Regional Round 1 this weekend in Fredericton. Third place in the AUS was won by StFX (14-6), who defeated Memorial (12-8) to claim the final AUS spot in Round 1.

The OUA championship was just as exciting as the AUS version and saw Windsor (20-2) take their third straight championship with a 46-44 win over Carleton (18-4).

As the host Windsor already had a spot in the Final 8 and now advance as the OUA Champion. The host spot will be filled by an at-large berth selected from teams competing in the Round 1 Regionals. As the second-place OUA team Carleton now hosts the Central Round 1 Regional. Third place in the OUA was won by Toronto (18-4), who defeated Laurier (15-7), while Western took the final OUA spot defeating Ottawa (14-8).

RSEQ’s playoffs featured a major upset as the fourth-place Laval Rouge et Or (5-11) beat the top-ranked McGill Martlets (13-3) in the semi-finals before defeating UQAM (10-6) in the conference finals. Laval now heads to the Final 8 and UQAM takes part in the West Round 1 Regional.

The Saskatchewan Huskies (22-2) continued their stellar season taking down the Regina Cougars (19-5) in the Canada West finals.

Alberta (17-7) defeated the University of the Fraser Valley (12-12) for third place and a trip to the Central Round 1 Regional and UFV heads to UNB for the East Round 1 Regional. Winnipeg (20-4) is the fifth-place Canada West team and will be joining Alberta in the Central Round 1 Regional. Also coming from Canada West is the at-large berth, the Victoria Vikes (15-9), who will participate in the West Round 1 Regional in Regina.

What’s it all mean?

As conference play has finished the Round 1 Regionals shape up as outlined below.

NOTE: Windsor now takes the OUA Championship slot at the Final 8 and the Host slot will be awarded to an At-Large Berth, selected from teams that participated in the Round 1 Regionals. This team will be selected following the conclusion of the Round 1 Regional events this weekend.

AUS Champion: Cape Breton
RSEQ Champion: Laval
OUA Champion: Windsor
CWUAA Champion: Saskatchewan

CIS Final 8 Host/At-Large Berth: TBD

REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS SCHEDULE

SSN Canada will have live webcasts of all games from the three events. The webcasts are available through www.ssncanada.ca or http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wbkb.

Western Regional at University of Regina (all times CST)

Friday, March 11
18:15 Semifinal #1: Victoria vs. Regina
20:00 Semifinal #2: Wilfrid Laurier vs. UQAM

Saturday, March 12
19:00 Final

Central Regional at Carleton University (all times EST)

Friday, March 11
18:00 Semifinal #1: StFX vs. Alberta
20:00 Semifinal #2: Winnipeg vs. Carleton

Saturday, March 12
19:00 Final

Eastern Regional at University of New Brunswick (all times AST)

Friday, March 11
18:00 Semifinal #1: Western Ontario vs. UNB
20:00 Semifinal #2: Fraser Valley vs. Toronto

Saturday, March 12
16:00 Final

-CIS-