Defending champion Acadia shooting for fourth title in six years
by Corey LeBlanc
The fight for Atlantic University Sport (AUS) women’s basketball supremacy is expected to be a competitive one.
Heading into this 17th campaign as UNB REDS head coach, Jeff Speedy says he has never seen the conference as “deep and strong.”
“There are years when teams are hopeful that they are going to be competitive but, this season, they are legitimate [contenders],” he adds.
Scott Munro, in his 13th season as Saint Mary’s Huskies head coach, offers it should be “one of the most competitive ones in years.”
“With so much parity, any team is capable of winning on any given night,” he says.
The longest-tenured bench boss in the conference—Fabian McKenzie—agrees. “This league will be the toughest I have seen in my 24 years as a coach,” the Cape Breton University Capers mentor says.
Len Harvey, head coach of the defending champion Acadia Axewomen, predicts it is “going to be exciting for fans to watch.”
Acadia, second (11-4) in the 2022 regular season, defeated the Capers in the AUS championship.
The UPEI Panthers (11-2) finished first, followed by the Axewomen, Huskies (12-4), Capers (8-7), Memorial University Sea-Hawks (9-7) and Reds (6-8).
The STFX X-Women (2-14) and Dalhousie Tigers (0-13) – the final two finishers last season – have new head coaches. X alumni Matt Spencer is leading his hometown team, while Tanya McKay – long-time leader of the national power University of Winnipeg – has joined the Tigers.
McDonald returns
Haley McDonald (Port Williams, NS) is back for her fifth season with Acadia. “She is someone that everyone will lean on,” Harvey says. He adds Elizabeth Iseyemi (Dartmouth, NS) continues to grow into a “prominent leadership role.”
“We expect Lizzy to be one of the top players in the AUS.”
Newcomer Bianca Helmig (Speyer, DEU) has cracked the starting line-up. “She is a really, really strong lockdown defender,” Harvey offers.
He explains that they plan to “play fast,” while showcasing a “flowing offense” that shares the basketball.
“Our depth is going to be a key for us,” Harvey adds.
"A work in progress"
McKenzie describes his Capers as “a work in progress.”
He explains that they will “rely heavily” on fifth-year all-star guard MacKenzee Ryan (Glace Bay, NS) and sophomore sensation Kiyara Letlow (Toronto, ON)—the 2022 U SPORTS rookie of the year and second-team All-Canadian. The top freshman in the AUS led the nation with 15.7 rebounds per game, while finishing second at 22.7 points per game.
The starting line-up for CBU also welcomes back Hailey MacLeod (Marion Bridge, NS), who McKenzie describes as “ever-dynamic,” and spark plug guard Chermensa van la Parra (Rotterdam, Netherlands).
“Hopefully, it will be our defense that will get noticed,” McKenzie offers of what fans will see when the Capers are playing well.
He adds, “Because we don’t score very well, we need to be able to limit our opponent.”
Depth and experience
Noting that the “key pieces are back,” Sea-Hawks head coach Mark English says they are “deeper and more experienced.”
“We want to play at a fast tempo and share the ball.” English adds that three-point shooting will also be important. He says they are also “really focussed” on improving defensively.
“It is not about the effort—it is consistency and execution,” English explains.
Alana Short (Barrie, ON)—an AUS first-team all-star last season—will lead on both ends of the floor. Along with being able to score in a variety of ways, he notes that she “often plays the other team’s better guard.”
“She makes sure we get into what we need to do,” English says of point guard Inés Salat Margarit (Barcelona, Spain), who led the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio last season.
He adds that Rebecka Ekström (Stockholm, SWE)—a USPORTS all-rookie team member—is primed for a strong sophomore season.
Hannah Green (Flatrock, NL) and Gabrielle Roche (St. John’s, NL) will once again provide a frontcourt presence, while freshmen Malva Gyllenhammar Ekelöf (Malmö, Sweden) and Eavan McLaughlin (Fredericton, NB) are part of the improved depth.
“I think we have the pieces,” English says.
The next step
With improved depth—not to mention “progress made” late last season by an “incredibly young” roster—Speedy expects UNB to compete for a championship.
Transfer Jayda Veinot (Port Williams, NS)—the 2022 conference MVP and nation’s leading scorer—will help “speed up the process.”
“Jayda is going to help our team learn what it takes to win.”
He notes her presence will also benefit Katie McAffee (Lower Knoxford, NB), who often draws an opponent’s top defender.
“Katie is poised for a breakout campaign,” Speedy says.
Marley Curwin (Halifax, NS), a top defender in the conference, is “our quarterback on both ends of the floor.”
Kylee Speedy (Fredericton, NB) and Erin Ingalls (St. George, NB) are expected to build on strong first-year performances.
“They are really special,” Speedy says of the inside presence of Katie Butts (Ottawa, ON) and Jennifer Nkuah (Brampton, ON), adding they are “as good as anyone.”
"Ready to go"
UPEI head coach Matt Gamblin says his team is “ready to go,” explaining keys to success will start with stingy defense that leads to offensive opportunities.
“We want to push the pace and spread the floor,” he adds.
All-star guard Lauren Rainford (Toronto, ON) will be a catalyst defensively and offensively, while taking on an increased leadership role. She will share that mantle with Karla Yepez (Quito, Ecuador), who Gamblin notes has “been through it all”—the ups and downs—while also offering a coach’s perspective.
Sydney Lawlor (Charlottetown, PE), whose sister Devon is also on the roster, had a “great pre-season,” according to Gamblin.
The Lawlor siblings are one of two sister acts, with Aiden Rainford – Lauren’s older sister – in the fold.
“We expect a big contribution from her.”
Gamblin says their goal is to be the “best team in March.”
‘Sharing the ball’
Munro says his Huskies are a “good group that is working really hard.”
“We are working hard to find good team shots,” he explains, while “sharing the ball,” when they are playing strong basketball. Offensively, Munro expects “scoring by committee.”
“With our depth, I think it is going to be spread throughout our line-up.”
Alaina McMillan (Brantford, ON) and Clara Gascoigne (Dartmouth, NS), who Munro says “really came on” at the end of last season, along with Lucina Beaumont (Fredericton, NB) will be important contributors.
Veteran guard Sophia Widmeyer (Dartmouth, NS), in her first campaign with the Huskies, will be an immediate presence.
Munro believes they should be “in the mix” for an AUS title.
The 2022-23 AUS regular season tips off tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 26, when Acadia visits STFX at 6 p.m. Check out the full season's schedule here.