Lancer head coach Chantal ValléeLancer head coach Chantal Vallée was named CIS women’s basketball coach of the year. Photo by Edwin Tam.

Lancer repeats as nation’s top defensive player

Fifth-year guard Miah-Marie Langlois of the reigning three-time national champion Lancer women’s basketball team was named  best defensive player in the country for a remarkable third consecutive campaign, Thursday at the all-Canadian banquet held to open the CIS Final 8 tournament.

The standout point guard helped lead the Blue and Gold to a sixth straight regular season division title with a sparkling 21-1 record, and the Ontario University Athletics banner.

Langlois tied for first in the country in the regular season with 3.8 steals per game, was first in total steals with 83 and also averaged 5.8 rebounds per contest, all while being responsible for defending the opponents’ top guard. She showed her versatility by also contributing offensively with an average of 15.3 points and 4.9 assists per game.

“I am extremely proud of Miah’s commitment throughout her career to becoming a top defensive player,” said head coach Chantal Vallée, who received the Peter Ennis Award as coach of the year. “I’ve seen Miah work extremely hard on her individual skills outside of practice time both at the offensive and defensive ends. The University of Windsor and our Lancer basketball program are very proud of Miah’s well-deserved recognition.”

Canadian Interuniversity Sport also named Langlois a second-team all-Canadian. Lancer teammate Cheyanne Roger was tapped for the national all-rookie squad. Read more at goLancers.ca.

The CIS Final 8 gets underway on Friday at the St. Denis Centre and culminates Sunday at 8 p.m. with the gold-medal final, live on Sportsnet 360. The network 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. Note: due to the championship tournament, the entire St Denis Centre complex, including the pool, the Forge Fitness Centre and the fieldhouse will be closed to other uses from Friday through Sunday.

To purchase tickets to the 2014 CIS Women’s Basketball Championships, please visit the Windsor Lancers website at www.goLancers.ca.