UBC Thunderbirds win CIS varsity women's basketball national championship

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UBC Thunderbirds' women's basketball graduating players celebrate championship

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Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (2008/3/9) — The University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds defeat the University of Regina Cougars 67-46 to win the 2007-2008 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) women's varsity basketball championship.

UBC claims its third Bronze Baby Trophy in five seasons to crown the varsity careers of their three 5th-year graduating players: guards Erica McGuinness, Cait Haggarty, and forward Julie Little.

Erica McGuinness was recognized as the tournament's most valuable player averaging 22.3 points per game, as well as UBC's player of the game in all three of her team's victories of the championship.

2 minutes into the third quarter of the championship final, the Thunderbirds surged ahead on 3-pointer by Erica McGuinness to swing the eighth and final lead change of the game in their favour at 36-33.

UBC stymied Regina's offence over the remainder of the second half allowing the Cougars only 13 more points on 3-of-23 shooting from the field.

The Cougars reduced an 11-point deficit down to 9 (51-42) early in the fourth quarter when 4th-year forward Jessica Lynch answered a UBC 3-pointer by Cait Haggarty with a streaking right-handed lay-up.

It would be the last field goal Regina was able to make as the Thunderbirds' Canada West conference-leading defence extinguished the Cougars' last hopes for a comeback.

In contrast, the Cougars played the first half with exceptional poise and energy when they held their largest lead of the game at 24-20 in the second quarter emerging from a 17-8 run against UBC.

Regina was paced by Jessica Lynch with team highs of 15 points on 5-of-11 field goals and 8 rebounds.

The game was off to a blazing start in the first quarter when the two teams combined to score on 8 consecutive field goals — 3 of which were scored by Julie Little — resulting in a 12-7 UBC lead.

The 21-point margin of victory understates how closely UBC and Regina competed for possession of the ball.

The Thunderbirds out-rebounded the Cougars 37 to 33 while committing 4 fewer turnovers (17 to 21).

Without losing any players to graduation, Regina will look to carryover a formidable playoff run as the host team of the CIS championship tournament next season in 2008-2009.

Under head coach Deb Huband's tenure, the Thunderbirds graduate Erica McGuinness, Cait Haggarty, and Julie Little as their most decorated class of the modern CIS era each with three national championship gold medals in five seasons.

UBC previously won the Bronze Baby CIS championship game in 2005-2006 (56-53 vs. Cape Breton) and 2003-2004 (60-53 vs. Regina).

• (UBC) Erica McGuinness
• (UBC) Cait Haggarty
• (Regina) Jessica Lynch
• (McMaster) Rachel Hart
• (Laval) Marie-Michelle Genois

Tournament Summary:

• Quarter-final 1: (8) Laval 71-68 (1) Simon Fraser
• Quarter-final 2: (4) Regina 79-66 (5) Memorial
• Quarter-final 3: (3) McMaster 70-46 (6) Saskatchewan
• Quarter-final 4: (2) UBC 74-59 (7) Toronto

• Consolation 1: (1) Simon Fraser 93-67 (5) Memorial
• Consolation 2: (6) Saskatchewan 74-70 (7) Toronto
• 5th place final: (1) Simon Fraser 91-69 (6) Saskatchewan

• Semi-final 1: (4) Regina 73-63*OT (8) Laval 63
• Semi-final 2: (2) UBC 71-67 (3) McMaster

• Bronze medal: (3) McMaster 83-79 (8) Laval
• Championship final: (2) UBC 67-46 (4) Regina