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Lady Vees face quarterfinal match tonight

BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW [email protected] For the last couple of years, the Laurentian University women's basketball team has been one the best squads in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) scene.
BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW

For the last couple of years, the Laurentian University women's basketball team has been one the best squads in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) scene.

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CLARK
Yet, even with their remarkable seasons, the Lady Vees have fallen early in the OUA playoff rounds the last two seasons, providing bitter
disappointment to the entire team and coming up short on their never-ending quest for another OUA Championships.

This season, however, the Lady Vees finished third in the OUA East Division with a 15-7 record, behind the University of Ottawa and the University of Toronto.

The Lady Vees will host the Ryerson Rams tonight at the Ben Avery Gymnasium in an OUA quarterfinal contest. The winner advances to the next
round, while the loser packs up their gear and begins thinking about next year.

Game time is 7 pm.

With the unforgiving pressure of being the team to beat resting on other clubs, head coach Mike Clarke is hoping for a different result in this year's playoff round.

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CARPENTER
"Running from the front hasn't been to our benefit psychologically," said Clarke. "It's definitely different this year. It remains to be seen though. If we win, then finishing third was a good thing. If we don't, then it didn't help at all. You have a different psychology when you're not the favourite. I think it has taken the pressure off us. Everybody feels more excited and confident going into the playoffs this year."

The Lady Vees defeated Ryerson in two games this season. The team must remain in control of their emotions and keep a strong attack for ball possession to dispose of the Toronto competitors again.

"We're not taking them lightly," said Clarke. "Rebounding is going to be big for us. We also have to keep our composure because Ryerson is a very aggressive team and physical. If we compete with them on the boards, keep our cool, and execute our game plan, we should do fine."

Clarke is looking for greatness from his best players who will pit themselves against Ryerson.

"We are looking for Tierney Hoo and Cassandra Carpenter to lead the way," said Clarke. "They are our two best players and they are doing things the way they need to right now. Everybody else is also doing well playing their roles."

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HOO
The women had much to celebrate this past weekend besides a playoff berth, as Cassandra Carpenter broke the OUA record for most points scored in a single season.

Carpenter entered the weekend 47 points short of tying the mark of 418, held by York's Karen Jackson.

Against Royal Military College, Carpenter was unbelievable as she posted 39 points in a 102-40 win.

Carpenter then dumped in 17 points against Queen's University on Saturday to set the new OUA record of 427 points.

Carpenter's reign at the top could be short lived as Brock University's Jodie Ebeling has 413 points with one game to play tonight against Wilfrid Laurier.

"It's remarkable how she can play consistently at a high level," said Clarke. "She has a huge heart."


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