March 4, 2011 - Former WNBA, CCAA and NCAA standout Kelly Schumacher will deliver the keynote address at the upcoming belairdirect CCAA All-Canadian Banquet, as part of the 2011 CCAA Women’s National Basketball Championships hosted by Niagara College.

The belairdirect CCAA All-Canadian Banquet takes place March 16 at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls. In addition to serving as the opening ceremonies for the 2011 CCAA Women’s National Basketball Championships, it will also include the presentation of prestigious national awards, including Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, as well as recognition of the top ten women’s collegiate basketball players in Canada. The banquet begins at 6:30 p.m.

Schumacher is a Cincinnati, Ohio native who moved to Canada when she was 11 years old. A gifted high school athlete who excelled in basketball, volleyball and soccer, Schumacher attended John Abbott College in Quebec where she played basketball, won back-to-back CCAA Championships, and was voted John Abbott’s Rookie of the Year, Women’s Athlete of the Year, an All-Canadian, and the CCAA Player of the Year.

“Participating in the CCAA Women’s Basketball Championships were very exciting moments in my life,” said Schumacher. “I’m honoured to be able to come back and show my support to the young, talented athletes of the future.”

Schumacher accepted a scholarship to play basketball for NCAA powerhouse the University of Connecticut (UCONN), where she made one Elite Eight appearance, one Sweet Sixteen and two Final Four appearances in NCAA Championship Tournaments.

After graduating from UCONN, Schumacher was drafted 14th overall by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA draft. In her stellar eight-year career in the WNBA, she won championships with the Phoenix Mercury and Detroit Shock. Schumacher’s keynote address is sponsored by Campus Living Centres.

“We’re very fortunate to have such an accomplished individual speak at our banquet,” said Ray Sarkis, Niagara College Coordinator of Athletics and Recreation and Host Chair of the 2011 CCAA Women’s National Basketball Championships. “Kelly Schumacher has been very successful in sport and in life, and I know her message to our student athletes will be very powerful and inspirational.”

Niagara College is the proud host of the CCAA Women’s National Basketball Championships, which will see the top eight collegiate teams in Canada play for gold. This marks the first time since 1998 that the Championships have been played in Ontario.

Opening round games tip off at the Niagara College Welland Campus Athletic Centre at 1 p.m. on March 17, with additional games at 3 p.m.,
6 p.m. and 8 p.m. On March 18, consolation round games are scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., and semi-final games will be played at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The medals will be decided March 19, with Bronze qualifier games at 10 a.m. and noon, seventh-versus-eighth game at 2 p.m., the Bronze Medal game at 6 p.m. and the Gold Medal game at 8 p.m.

Tournament passes and day passes are available online at the official championship website Tournament passes are $20, Adult Day Passes are $8 and Student Day Passes are $5. Children under 12 are admitted free.


CONTACT
Ray Sarkis
Niagara College
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