By: Nathan Cooper
This week’s Flashback Friday features the 1995-96 women’s basketball team.
Staff: Dr. Carolyn Savoy (Head Coach), Shaun MacDonald (Assistant Coach), Natalie O’Regan (Manager)
Roster: Lindsay Collins, Danielle Moe, Claire Polomark, Kathie Sanderson, Heather MacIntyre, Nancy O’Regan, Carolyn Wares, Jody Euloth, Sue Park, Alana Coffin, Christine Cunliffe, Jackie Fleiger
Heading into the 1995-96 season, there were to be many changes to the Tigers women’s basketball roster. The only players returning from the previous year’s team were Dani Moe, Kathie Sanderson and Carolyn Wares. Transfer students Jackie Flieger, Sue Parke and Claire Polomark helped lay a solid foundation for what was to be a very young team.
Six rookies were joining the Tigers in Alana Coffin, Lindsay Collis, Christine Cunliffe, Jody Euloth, Heather McIntyre and Nancy O’Regan. Within the first few weeks of training camp, the team chemistry started to show, and the Tigers went into the season opener optimistic about the campaign.
It was time to begin the preseason. The Tigers were set to head to London, to play in the University of Western Ontario Tournament. They began the tournament remarkably, with a victory over the three-time defending National Champions, the University of Winnipeg. The Tigers lost the next day to the #1 ranked hosts, Western Ontario, but bounced back to a 30-point win over Bishop’s
The next preseason tournament, the Tigers defeated Windsor and lost to Queen’s. This put the team in to the Bronze medal game, where the Tigers edged the Huskies 69-67.
The last preseason tournament was the Subway Centennial Tournament hosted by Dalhousie. The Tigers went undefeated against Brock, UNB and Winnipeg, to take home the Gold at their home tournament. Jackie Flieger was named tournament MVP.
The Tigers first regular season game was at home against St. FX. In a high scoring shootout, the Tigers eventually defeated the X-Women 73-63.
Four days later, the Tigers faced the Huskies at home. The Tigers easily beat the Huskies, and they were off to a 2-0 start to their season.
These two homes wins jump-started the Tigers season, and the momentum only continued to build as they went on to win their next nine regular season games.
By the time February was ending, the Tigers had completed the Regular season with an impressive 17-3 record. The women were set to play Acadia in the AUAA Semi-Finals.
The Tigers cruised to a 72-56 victory over the Axe-Women and were set to play St. FX in the finals. The Tigers yet again proved they were too tough an opponent for the X-Women and won the AAUU Championship 67-50.
The Tigers were off to Quebec to compete in the CIAU Championship, where they lost initially to Manitoba by 5. The Tigers led at half but 30 turnovers by the Tigers created their demise. The Tigers fought back the next day with a victory over Laurentian. Lastly, the Tigers were defeated in the 5th place game to the University of Victoria.
It was noted that the most important ingredients for this team’s successes were great team chemistry combined with talent. Although the Tigers did not reach their goal of a national championship, they did accomplish many of the steps along the way.
Jody Euloth was named AUAA rookie of the year. Carolyn Wares was named AUAA first team all star while Jackie Fleiger and Kathie Sanderson were named to the second team.