CMU Blazers

Women's Basketball 2009-10

Schedule and Reults now posted here

BLAZERS WIN CHAMPIONSHIP ON HOME COURT

More than 300 spectators packed the Loewen Athletic Centre on Saturday night to witness CMU defeat Red River College 70-26 to win the 2010 MCAC Championship. Despite the lopsided final score, the two teams were very evenly matched in the first half. In fact, the #2 ranked Rebels held the leads during the opening quarter, getting scoring production from more than just MCAC leading scorer Brittany Adrian. Adrian was held scoreless by the Blazers in the opening quarter and had her only field goal in the game in the second quarter, ending the game with a mere 4 points.

Regular season Most Valuable Player Christie Anne McCullough, who would be selected Tournament MVP at the conclusion of the final, was also held in check by the Rebels in the opening quarter managing only a three-point field goal in the opening ten minutes. But the fifth-year point guard produced more than just points for the Blazers. „Christie Anne spread the ball around and really helped balance our scoring tonight, „said first-year head coach Alex Leaver. „It is hard to stop us when we have lots of players scoring.‰ CMU had just that on Saturday night. The Blazers ended the half with a 30-18 lead and an effective press in the second half allowed CMU to put the Rebels completely off their offensive game.

A fantastic accomplishment in a conference championship, CMU would get scoring from every player on the roster. McCullough, Tamara Andjelovic and Jaime Semchuk each collected 12 points to lead all scorers. Mallory Shack and Anneke Hildebrand would deliver 8 points in the win. The Championship was sweet for the returning players as CMU fell to Red River in the conference final a year ago on Red River‚s home court. Hildebrand and McCullough were both honored on Saturday afternoon at the MCAC Awards Banquet with selections to the All-Conference team, along with Red River‚s Adrian and Karie Magpantay and Sonia Radi and Jill Reimer from Providence College.
Date March 6, 2010

PRESSURE WIN FOR BLAZERS BASKETBALL

In a battle for first place in the MCAC women’s basketball standings, CMU pounded Red River 83-46 on Friday night to claim the top seed. The Blazers erupted for 19 first quarter points, holding the Rebels to a mere 5 thanks in large part to a swarming full-court press. “We knew that they didn’t have a true point guard and we decided to take advantage of that,” explained head coach Alex Leaver. Fifth-year guard Christie Anne McCullough scored 14 of her 16 points in the first half, capitalizing on the turnovers that she and her teammates created. In a rare start, first-year guard Anneke Hildebrand scored a game-high 17 in the CMU win and reigning MCAC Female Athlete of the Week Mallory Shack pushed in 15 points, including a 3-pointer. Brittany Adrian led Red River with 16 points, all scored in the second half.

In other action this weekend, Providence College picked up their first win of the season defeating Red River 46-42 on 15 points from guard Melanie Warkentin. Red River will meet CMU again on Saturday afternoon at home after suffering two consecutive losses.
Womens Basketball Jan 29
Date posted January 29th 2010

BLAZERS BOUNCE FREEMEN

First-year guard Anneke Hildebrand scored 17 points, including 12 in the first half as the CMU Blazers women’s basketball team fought off Providence for a 67-42 victory on home court on Friday night. Early foul trouble left CMU without the services of fifth-year point guard Christie Anne McCullough for much of the game, holding the all-star to only 2 points in the first half and 9 in the game. The tenacious play of MCAC Female Athlete of the Week Melanie Warkentin, sparked a late first half charge by the Freemen that brought Providence within striking distance at the half, 30-21. Providence forward and Jill Reimer did much of their first half scoring, picking up 10 points and finished with a game-high 19.

The second half saw CMU pull away, outscoring the Freemen 21-13 in the third quarter. Third-year guard Mallory Shack punched in 16 points for CMU off the bench and went 2 for 4 from behind the 3-point line. The win puts CMU back on top of the MCAC women’s basketball standings and sets up an all-important battle for first place this Friday night when the Blazers host the Red River Rebels at 6:30 pm.
Date posted January 22, 2010

59-36 loss to Dakota College at Bottineau

In women’s basketball action from Friday night, the Blazers found it hard-going in a 59-36 loss to Dakota College at Bottineau. The powerful Ladyjacks amassed a 31-18 half-time lead on Alyssa Smith’s rebounding prowess and Haley Mindt’s outside shooting presence. CMU’s scoring was well dispersed in the first half, but defensive pressure from the visitors created too many turnovers for CMU. The Blazers stayed with their opposition through the second and fourth quarters and ended the game on the losing side of a respectable 59-36 scoreline. Christie Anne McCullough led CMU with a team-high 10 points and Tamara Andjelovic added 8 to go with 7 rebounds.

As difficult a test as Bottineau was for the women’s team, there is plenty of optimism as they now concentrate on the second half of the MCAC season. The Blazers will host third-place Providence College on Friday night at 6:30pm while the men play at 8pm.
Date posted January 18, 2010

Head Coach Women’s Basketball

Canadian Mennonite University is now accepting applications for the position of head coach for the women’s basketball program. The CMU Blazers have an established history of success in the Manitoba Colleges Athletics Conference.

This position requires experience and education in the areas of coaching, recruiting and retaining student-athletes. The head coach of women’s basketball is a part-time volunteer position – with a competitive honorarium based on experience, education and coaching qualifications.

To apply or for more information, contact Russell Willms, Director of Athletics, at 487-3300 or send a cover letter and coaching resume to rwillms@cmu.ca.

To begin in Spring 2010.

BLAZERS BOUNCE BACK

Fifth-year guard Christie Anne McCullough scored 13 points for CMU on Saturday night as the Blazers women’s basketball team rebounded from a 3-point loss to Red River College the previous weekend with a 64-36 win over MCAC newcomers Providence College. First-year guard Anneke Hildebrand scored 10 of her 14 points in the first quarter for CMU, helping the Blazers amass a 47-24 halftime lead.

The home team showed signs of improvement in the second half initiated by Sonia Radi’s scoring. Radi scored 10 points in the second half for Providence – tops on both teams in the half. On the night, CMU proved to be too strong for the Freemen. Athleticism and experience was a major factor in the win.

The two teams will tip-off in Game 1 of the Prairie Cup Challenge at Providence on Thursday night, with CMU playing the remainder of their tournament games at Red River College on Friday evening and Sunday morning.
Date posted November 26, 2009

Women’s Hoopsters Lose a Heartbreaker

The CMU women’s basketball team dropped their regular season record to 1-1 on the weekend, surrendering the lead they held for most of the game in a 65-62 loss to Red River. With the win, the Rebels climb level with CMU at 1-1 to sit atop the leaderboard. Providence will get their season underway on November 21.

The Blazers came out of the gate eager to impress the sellout home crowd amassing an 8 point first quarter lead. Jaime Semchuk scored 6 of her 12 points in the first quarter to lead CMU. After transferring to Brandon University in 2008, point-guard Christie Anne McCullough has returned to CMU in 2009 to quarterback CMU and is displayed that experience and quality over the first half. McCullough managed 10 points and 0 fouls in the first half, but second half foul trouble would open the door for Rebels sharp-shooter Brittany Adrian to rally a Rebel comeback.

Facing a deficit of 13 points, the Rebels emerged the stronger of the two teams over the final minutes. Red River coach Cheryl Jean-Paul utilized forward Karie Magpantay who outworked CMU on the offensive glass and managed to score consistently in the paint and from the free throw line. She ended with 12 points for the Rebels, second only to Adrian who poured in 16 including two fourth-quarter three-point balls to give Red River their first lead in the final 3 minutes.

CMU travels to Otterburne to take on the conference newcomers from Providence on Saturday night before completing their fall semester schedule in the Prairie Cup Challenge during the final weekend in November.
Date posted November 17, 2009

SWOOSH BOUNCE BLAZERS IN HOME OPENER

Tamara Andjelovic scored 13 points for CMU but it wasn’t enough to top high-flying Winnipeg Swoosh in women’s basketball on Thursday night in the Loewen Athletic Centre. Led by former University of Winnipeg phenom Uzo Asagwara, Swoosh jumped out to a ten point half time lead, 41-31. After a one-year absence at Brandon University, point guard Christie Anne McCullough was back in the familiar green and gold of CMU scoring 12 points, playing stellar defense and distributing the ball well to create baskets for the home team.

Asagwara and Trisha Serhal would prove to be too much for CMU combining for over half of Swoosh’s scoring, leading the senior women’s side to a 76-60 win. The Blazers scoring was well spread out, with all players finding the score sheet. Guards Mallory Shack and Brooke Semchuk scored 10 and 8 points respectively.

CMU will open their 2009 MCAC regular season on Saturday afternoon when they play at Red River College against the defending champion Rebels on Saturday afternoon.
Date Posted October 26, 2009

Young Coach Takes The Reigns

The CMU Blazers are proud to announce the hiring of Alex Leaver as the head coach of the women’s basketball team. Alex has been an outstanding collegiate playing career since 2006 and was very influential in the skill development and training with the CMU women’s basketball team in 2008-2009, when he served as an assistant coach.

“There is a huge advantage as a coach to be as thoroughly involved in your sport as Alex will be with basketball this year” explains Russell Willms, CMU Director of Athletics. “Alex will certainly be a player’s coach. I am positive that the women on the team will learn a lot from his coaching and really enjoy playing for him.”

Alex has worked in developmental coaching with several boys and girls team through the Riverview Community Centre and is excited about the opportunity to be a head coach at the collegiate level.
Date July 10th, 2009