The Lancer women’s basketball team is looking to make program history tomorrow afternoon, as they face-off against the Simon Fraser Clan for the Bronze Baby in the CIS Championship final at 3:00pm in the Burridge Gym at McMaster University.
With an 82-60 win over the Saskatchewan Huskies in the CIS semi-finals, the No. 2 seeded Lancers have qualified for the championship game for the first time in their 49 year history.
Tickets for the championship game are still available can be purchased at the door.
Windsor is the first Ontario team to play for the Bronze Baby since York lost to Manitoba 73-52 in the 1997 championship game in Thunder Bay, Ont. The last OUA squad to win the CIS banner was Laurentian, 79-72 winners over Regina in 1991 in Ste. Foy, Que.
The last three national finals have featured two Canada West teams, and the last non-Canada West school to make the final was Cape Breton in 2006, 56-53 losers to UBC.
“To play for the Bronze Baby, it’s the dream of every coach, every player. This is what we want,” said Lancers head coach Chantal Vallée, in her fifth season at the helm. “Saskatchewan came out and played with a lot of poise to start. But our girls came out and were very focussed."
Earlier this season, the two teams squared off in two pre-season exhibition games that saw the Clan defeat the Lancers 81-78 and 69-50. Since their last game against the clan, Windsor has gone an amazing 29-1 overall in regular season and exhibition play.
The Clan have also had an impressive run going 27-1 since they played Windsor.
Heading into the game, Windsor will need to contain the CIS Player of the Year Robyn Buna, and Katie Miyazaki the CIS Defensive Player of the Year.
Buna is a three time Canada West all-star and two time CIS all-Canadian to led the Clan with 14.3 points per game, while Miyazaki is an overall threat as she led the Clan in assists, steals, blocked shots and rebounds.
The championship game is also Simon Fraser’s final CIS game as they make the switch to the NCAA for the 2010-11 season.
Windsor will look to CIS Rookie of the year Jessica Clemençon who has led the Lancers in points throughout the tournament and was named Windsor’s player of the game in the Lancers win over Ottawa in the quarter finals.
Shavaun Reaney will also be looked at to run the Lancer offence and keep Windsor focused and on target.
First year rookie Miah-Marie Langlois has had an excellent tournament to date, being named Windsor’s Player of the Game in their semi-final win over Saskatchewan.
Windsor takes to the court at 3:00pm on Sunday afternoon against the Simon Fraser Clan as they try to capture their first Bronze Baby trophy in Lancer history. The game will be broadcast LIVE on TSN2.