Posted: Mar 01, 2017

Women's Basketball Championship Preview

by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips

She is the all-time steals leader in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) women's basketball history with 350 steals in 110 games for an impressive 3.18 average.

"I didn't know that I had that many steals," said a humble Shea-Lynn Noyes, a fifth-year student/athlete for the NAIT Ooks.

Asked of this specific skill set, she replied: "I think just anticipating it. Defence has always been my strong suit. I'm always moving and watching my opponent's eyes and where they want to go. I am anticipating ahead of time and there are times that I miss and take risks on the court."

Noyes, who was in ACAC North All Conference first team selection in 2015-2016 with second team status in 2014-2015, has also showed a talent for scoring.

She found twine time scoring 1,007 career points for 9.5 points per game average.

Part of two ACAC bronze medal teams, Noyes played a key role in the Ooks first-ever women's basketball gold medal in 2015-2016.

The Ooks would advance to secure a bronze medal at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association championships last year at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario.

Not bad for a young woman who picked up the sport in Grade 6, later leading her Spruce Grove high school hoops team to city titles in Grade 11 and Grade 12.

"I fell in love with the sport as a kid," recalls Noyes, who is enrolled in Interior Design Technology. "I didn't play any other sports really as I didn't like the cold and liked being in the gym. It was also a great stress reliever and I have met a lot of great people during the journey."

An Architectural & Interior Design Technologist, her dream is to one day having her own company.

"I just love to draw and design and I would love to have career in commercial design with restaurants, hospitality, institutional," said Noyes who has honoured as an Academic All-Conference Canadian Athlete several times.

Facing Medicine Hat Rattlers in their opening match Thursday at the 2016-2017 ACAC Women's Basketball Championships being held in Lethbridge, Noyes concluded: "It is unknown. I have never been one to predict the future. If we run our system okay and play with our hearts, we will have a positive outcome. I want to look back and say that I enjoyed the experience."

Below are thumbnail sketches of the opening games.

Thursday March 2, 2017

Game 1 1:00 p.m.

Keyano College Huskies vs. St. Mary's University Lightning

Keyano College Huskies 15 wins 9 losses PPG 65.4 PPG Opponents 68.9
ACAC Championships: 0
PPG: Sylivia Smith-Gatson 13.7
RPG: Moiyan Toure 8.8
APG: Sylivia Smith-Gatson 2.8

Coach Dwayne Vigilance: "They (St. Mary's) are a very good team and they have brought back quite a few players from last year's team (18-3) team. We have to defend three-point line as they shoot well from there (159-528). The key is for our young guards to play well…Aliyah Johnson, Sarah MacDonald, Liana Garcia and Tyshaine Page. Our inside game is one of our most consistent qualities during the season and they need to continue to bang bodies and rebound the basketball."

St. Mary's University Lightning 16 wins 5 losses PPG 80.8 PPG Opponents 60.4
ACAC Championships: 0
PPG: Montana Romeril 20.2
RPG: Mary Jean Ritchie 9.5
APG: Montana Romeril 4.6

Game 2 3:00 p.m.

Medicine Hat College Rattlers vs. NAIT Ooks

Medicine Hat College Rattlers 11 wins 10 losses PPG 67.3 Opponents PPG 67.6
ACAC Championships: 4
PPG: Megan Getz 17.2
RPG: Kennedy Werre 11.6
APG: Megan Getz & Courtney Henry 2.5

NAIT Ooks 23 wins 1 loss PPG 73.1 Opponents PPG 52.1
ACAC Championships: 1
PPG: Torey Hill 15.1
RPG: Torey Hill 11.6
APG: Katie Waring 2.1

Coach Todd Warnick: "They (Medicine Hat) dribble, pass and shoot well. We will have to play defence. We don't have key players, we have 15 players on our roster all are contributors to our team concept. "

Game 3 6 p.m.

SAIT Trojans vs Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder

SAIT Trojans 14 wins 7 losses 61.9 PPG Opponents PPG 58.3

ACAC Championships: 4
PPG: Alicia Tan 14.6
RPG: Stephanie Haynes 6.7
APG: Alicia Tan 3.4

Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder 18 wins 6 losses 66.8 PPG Opponents PPG 55.8

ACAC Championships: 1
PPG: Nakita Newman 14.9
RPG: Nakita Newman 5.8
APG: Nakita Newman 2.2

Coach Robbie Valpreda: "Our strengths are that we continue to work hard no matter the situation. We can move the ball well in transition and this is a great team to be a part of. The strength in our opponent is that they have the experience at the playoff level. This will be our first trip to playoffs in five-years for our program. Every member on our team plays an important role. But if you have to pick three, it would be Nakita Newman, Ann Stewart and Lacey Weddle. They all bring something; rebounding, experience and leadership. "

Game 4 8 p.m.

Lakeland College Rustlers vs Lethbridge College Kodiaks

Lakeland College Rustlers 12 wins 12 losses 60.8 PPG Opponents PPG 58.9
ACAC Championships: 0
PPG: Romanalyn Inocenico 16.0
RPG: Shania Magnusson 7.0
APG: Romanalyn Inocenico 4.4

Lethbridge College Kodiaks 21 wins 84.7 PPG Opponents PPG 52.1
ACAC Championships: 13
PPG: Logan Moncks 22.6
RPG: Emma Lowry 9.7
APG: Leah Ekubazgi & Sunder West 3.5