Lancer women’s basketball players are ready for the CIS national championship tournament to begin.
The tournament host University of Windsor Lancers hope to capture a remarkable fourth straight Bronze Baby trophy this weekend on their home court at the St. Denis Centre, which would give them the second longest championship streak in CIS women’s basketball history.
The CIS Final 8 gets under way on Friday and culminates Sunday at 8 p.m. with the gold-medal final, televised live on Sportsnet 360. Sportsnet 360 also has live coverage of Saturday’s semifinals at 3 and 5 p.m. All 11 games from the tournament will be webcast live on www.CIS-SIC.tv.
The OUA champion Lancers, who head into the competition as the No. 1 seed for the second straight season and for the third time in four years, will be joined in their quest for the CIS banner by Saint Mary’s Huskies, Saskatchewan Huskies, McGill Martlets, Fraser Valley Cascades, Queen’s Gaels, Alberta Pandas and Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.
The St. Denis Centre is where it all began for the Lancers, who beat Saskatchewan in front of a packed house in the 2011 final to become the first team in history to hoist the Bronze Baby on home court. They have since added titles in Calgary two years ago and in Regina last winter.
Windsor is currently tied with Winnipeg (1993-1995), Victoria (1980-1982) and UBC (1972-1974) as teams to capture three straight CIS women’s basketball crowns, trailing only Laurentian’s five consecutive triumphs from 1975 to 1979.
Head coach Chantal Vallée says she is grateful to have qualified for the championships through the front door for the sixth straight year.
“It is an incredible privilege to be competing for another title on our home court,” she says. “We could not be more excited to have the tournament start and play in front of our spectacular home fans.”
Windsor will play its tournament opener against Laurier at 6 p.m. Friday. Read a full tournament preview, “Lancers eye fourth-straight CIS title,” at goLancers.ca.
To purchase tickets to the 2014 CIS Women’s Basketball Championships, please visit the Windsor Lancers website at www.goLancers.ca.