The basketball season begins Thursday with Saint Mary’s hosting St. F.X. Here’s a look at each team in the AUS women’s conference, with last season’s record in parentheses:

MEMORIAL SEA-HAWKS
(17-3, AUS champs)

Ones to Watch – Kelly Himmelman, Victoria Thistle, Meghan Dalton

Key Losses – Katherine Quackenbush, Leslie Stewart, Maegan Seaward, Paula Barker, Erin Mullaley

New Faces – Alexandria Forsey, Grace Fishbein, Brittany McCarthy

Outlook – The two-time defending champions will sport a new look this season after losing six fourth- and fifth-year players, but Doug Partridge’s teams are always competitive.

CAPE BRETON CAPERS
(15-5)

Ones to Watch – Kelsey Hodgson, Kari Everett

Key Losses – Natasha Eadie, Tamara Alleyne, Katherine Kanaski

New Faces – Brittany Morrison, Jelena Vujovic, Katie McGarrigle

Outlook – Hodgson has developed into a top scoring threat, but coach Fabian McKenzie will be looking to some of his second-years to fill the shoes of departed veterans.

"We’re looking to peak going into the playoffs," McKenzie said. "Our goal is to keep improving as the season goes on, because it could be a long one for us."

DALHOUSIE TIGERS
(12-8)

Ones to Watch – Laurie Girdwood, Brianna Orr, Alex Legge

Key Losses – Kate McNeil, Tamara Mijatovic, April Scott.

New Faces – Kelly Donald, Jenna Kaye, Cailin Crosby, Carla Norrad, Tiffany James

Outlook – The injury bug has bitten the Tigers early – with a knee injury to Legge potentially the most serious – but this veteran-laden squad is a definite contender.

UNB VARSITY REDS
(11-9)

Ones to Watch – Amanda Sharpe, Angela Aydon

Key Losses – Leah Corby, Kathleen Singh, Katelyn Springer

New Faces – Emma Russell, Jessi Bradley, Laura Fowler

Outlook – Jeff Speedy’s squad has lost two of last year’s top performers but the V-Reds are never an easy win for anyone, especially at home.

UPEI PANTHERS
(8-12)

Ones to Watch – Susanne Canvin, Cassie Goodwin

Key Losses – Jenna Kaye, M.A. Campbell, Heidi Campbell, M.C. Connolly

New Faces – Myra Donkin, Amber Glasser, Carly Lafave, Nicole Brown, Porscha Lewis

Outlook – The Panthers will miss Kaye’s versatile talent as they try to stay in the playoff mix.

ACADIA AXEWOMEN
(7-13)

Ones to Watch – Emma Duinker, Brianne Ozimok

Key Losses – Jennifer Bishop, Marrla Evans

New Faces – Keisha Brown, Sondra Medley, Ashley Shaw, Stefanie Chapman, Elizabeth Leighton, Robyn Fleckenstein

Outlook – All-star Becky Mutch is potentially on the shelf after injuring her ACL in the pre-season. Incoming coach Bev Greenlaw says his young players will see plenty of time as he tries to build on some of last year’s successes while shedding the inconsistency that plagued the team.

"We’re trying to create a culture here," he said. "Consistency is the sign of a good team… but it’s not a ‘flick a switch’ kind of thing. It will take some time."

ST. F.X. X-WOMEN
(6-14)

Ones to Watch — Ashley Stephen, Jacquelyn Richardson, Emily McPherson

Key Losses — Leah Mochrie, Shannon Matheson

New Faces —Stephanie Hiltz, Elyse Hnatiuk, Kathleen McIver, Camesha MacKenzie

Outlook — The guard-heavy X-Women will look to dictate the tempo against their opponents, said first-year coach Matt Skinn. "We’ve got to play fast, and we’re trying to use a lot of defensive pressure. We have to make sure we utilize our strengths."

SAINT MARY’S HUSKIES
(4-16)

Ones to Watch – Kelsey Daley, Julia Finlay

Key Losses – Alise Brown, Venessa Ryan, Jasmine Parent

New Faces – Angela Fifield, Stephanie Clarke, Amanda Smith, Hayley Fox, Holly Rhodenizer, Natasha Baker

Outlook – After losing Brown from the league’s lowest-scoring offence, the Huskies aren’t likely to outgun many opponents. "We’ve got to get teams playing in a range that we can play in ourselves, offensively," said first-year coach Scott Munro. "Defence is going to be the key for that."

( clucas@herald.ca)

 

This page last modified Sunday, 07-Nov-2010 16:43:26 AST