By Mackenzie Holden

This week’s Flashback Friday goes to the 2014-2015 women’s basketball team

Back Row (L- R): Jessika Gibson (assistant trainer), Shalyn Field, Ainsley MacIntyre, Shannon Forbes, Robbi Daley, Natan Adelman (trainer)

Middle Row (L- R): Leah Girdwood (assistant coach), Tina Lum (assistant coach), Hollie MacDonald, Abby MacDonald, Christina Brown, Diedre Alexander, Anna Stammberger (head coach), Noel Pendergast (assistant coach)

Front Row (L- R): Erica Abraham (trainer), Emma MacLean, Courtney Thompson, Rebecca Nuttall, Tessa Stammberger, Kristy Moore, Carissa Poulin, Chika Chiekwe (manager)

Missing from Photo: Carol Rosenthall (sports psychologist)

With the AUS wide open, the 2014-15 women’s basketball team knew the conference title was anyone’s for the taking. Starting the pre-season in Germany, the Tigers squad competed against local club teams but more importantly grew as a team, and were ready to tackle the season ahead.

The women got off to a great start, going on a three-game winning streak, before being handed their first loss at the hands of Memorial. The Tigers would then stumble again against Saint Mary’s, before ending the fall term on a high note and beating Acadia by 21, leaving them at 4-2 at the break.

Coming out of the break, the Tigers didn’t miss a beat going 5-2 in January. Dal faltered against an underperforming Acadia team and then split a two game set against Cape Breton the following weekend. Knowing they needed to refocus before making a serious playoff push, the Tigers went on a four-game win streak to close out the regular season, winning each game by 13 points on average.

They ended the regular season with a 14-6 record which would give them a first round bye, and a serious shot for the AUS crown in the wide open conference. Heading into the semifinal game, UPEI was set to play the Tigers. In a game that saw the Tigers lead by six at half time, UPEI battled back and managed to create just a two-point deficit going into the fourth frame. Unfortunately, the Tigers could not keep pace and fell to UPEI.

Although they did not end the season how they wanted, Courtney Thompson won AUS MVP for her efforts during the season, and Anna Stammberger won coach of the year. This was the best regular season finish for the Tigers   since the 2007 season.