The CCAA Women's Basketball Championships took place at Niagara College March 17-19, 2011.

GOLD MEDAL GAME
Game 13: Montmorency vs Algonquin

COLLEGE MONTMORENCY NOMADES (seed 1) vs ALGONQUIN COLLEGE THUNDER (seed 6)

MONTMORENCY 61 vs Algonquin 53

The Gold Medal game of the 2011 CCAA Women’s Basketball National Championships would feature the No.1 seed College Montmorency Nomades from Laval, Quebec, RSEQ Champions, taking on the No.6 seed Algonquin College Thunder from Ottawa, Ontario, the OCAA Champions.

The Nomades are going for their sixth CCAA Championship title and first since 2006.

Meanwhile, the Thunder are making their first appearance at the CCAA Championships and are looking to become the first team from Ontario to win the Tournament in its 34 year history.

The Nomades, who were 20-0 in league play and 5-0 in the playoffs, would jump out to a quick 4-0 lead. The Thunder would answer with an impressive 15-8 run to go up 15-12 after 10 minutes.

In the second quarter, the Thunder were able to get a five point lead thanks to a 3-pointer by Tina Ethier from the top of the arc. But, the Nomades would reply of a 13-5 run of their own highlighted by the play of Jannie Jacques, who would score 12 points to lead all scorers in the first half. The Nomades would lead 29-27 lead after twenty minutes.

The scoring for the first four minutes of the third quarter was filled with only free throws. The Nomades building a five point from the line. The Thunder would eventually tie the game at 32 with a 3-point shot by Ethier. The tie was shortlived as Jacques single-handedly answered with 7-4 run of her own, that included a 3-ball, a lay-up, and a jumper to put the Nomades up 39-36 after three quarters.

In the first two minutes of the fourth quarter, the Nomades would put up four points extending their lead to seven. The Thunder would not roll over as Jori Ritchie would heat up from behind the arc in the final two minutes making three consecutive 3’s to close the deficit to four points. But, the Nomades would make clutch shots and free throws in the last minute to win 61-53.

All-Canadian Jenny Allen, the floor general for the Thunder, was named Player of the Game for Algonquin. While, Jannie Jacques would earn Player of the Game for the Nomades scoring a game-high 26 points going 7-for-18 (38.8%, including 2-for-3 (66.6%) from behind the arc, and 6-for-8 (75%)from the free throw line.

Players of the Game
College Montmorency Nomades: Jannie Jacques
Algonquin College Thunder: Jenny Allen

BRONZE MEDAL GAME
Game 12: St Thomas Tommies vs Dawson College Blues

ST THOMAS TOMMIES (seed 5) DAWSON COLLEGE BLUES (seed 3)

Dawson 58 - St Thomas 53

The Bronze Medal game of the 2011 CCAA Women’s Basketball National Championships would feature the No.3 seed Dawson College Blues from Montreal, Quebec, RSEQ Silver Medalists taking on the No. 5 seed St. Thomas University Tommies from Fredericton, New Brunswick, the ACAA Champions.

The first quarter would be a closely contested 10 minutes as expected from these two teams. There would be three lead changes with the Tommies holding a 16-13 edge after the first quarter.

Just like the first quarter, the second quarter was a hard fought time minutes with three more lead changes. Both teams not letting one another get a lead larger than a four points. The Tommies up 31-30 at the break. The Blues just 1-for-12 (0.08%) from behind the arc compared to the Tommies who were 4-for-13 (30.8%).

The Tommies were able to outscore the Blues 18-13 in the third quarter and gain a six point going into the final ten minutes.

The Blues would rally with a 7-3 run highlighted by a Janice Quintos 3-point shot to close within two points – 52-50 Tommies.

After a timeout by the Blues with 3:40 remaining, Genevieve Gaboriault would drain a three to give the Blues a 55-54 lead. The Blues would hold the Tommies scoreless for the remainder of the game and make three free throws to win 58-54 and take home the Bronze.

All 10 Blues would make it to the scoresheet with Gaboriault leading in scoring with 11 points.

Kelly Debow had 16 points for the Tommies, including going 3-for-6 (50%) from behind the arc.

Players of the Game
Dawson College Blues: Amencie Mercier
St. Thomas University Tommies: Kelly Debow

Game Recaps: http://ccaawomensbasketball2011.ca/
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccaawbb2011/