Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series highlighting players from last season in the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association who are preparing for USPORTS and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association championship runs. We begin with Ontario University Athletics:
The Final Four is set.
Without a doubt, when you’re undefeated entering the post-season, you’re considered the prohibitive favourite to win a championship.
That would be Ottawa’s Carleton University Ravens as they prepare for Ontario University Athletics semifinal weekend, coming up Saturday.
Carleton finished the regular season at 22-0 and will face Toronto Metropolitan Bold in one semifinal matchup. The Bold finished 17-5.
The semifinal fans of the MWBA and Fredericton Freeze will be watching also unfolds in Ottawa on Saturday.
That’s when University of Ottawa Gee Gees host University of Windsor Lancers in the other semifinal.
MWBA’s Allie McCarthy and Bailey Russell of the Fredericton Freeze are with Ottawa.
Gee Gees finished 19-2 and Windsor comes in at 18-4.
McCarthy started all 22 games for Ottawa, averaging 11.6 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per outing. She amassed 256 points and was 25-for-75 from beyond the arc.
Russell started four games during the regular season and earned 6.9 points per game and 3.5 rebounds. She shot a remarkable 33-for-86 from three-point land for a 38.4 per cent clip.
Both teams advancing to the OUA’s Critelli Cup final will automatically move on to the national championship March 13 to 16 at University of British Columbia.
– Allie McCarthy takes flight during MWBA action. (Fran Harris Photo)