Greater Sudbury Northern Life
The Laurentian Lady Vees basketball team continues their home stand this weekend, when they battle the number three Windsor Lancers and the Western Mustangs in OUA Regular Season action.
The Lady Vees are looking to maintain an advantage over their opponents atop the OUA East standings, while also proving themselves against two powerhouses from the West. The number 10 CIS ranked Lady Vees are currently sporting a 5-1 record.
On Friday, Nov. 21, the Lancers will invade the Ben Avery Gymnasium, who, similar to the Lady Vees, also hold a 5-1 record, while sitting atop the OUA West.
This encounter marks the first time two nationally ranked teams have entertained the Laurentian fans on their home court, since March 5, 2000 when the Western Mustangs and Lady Vees battled in the OUA Championship.
Windsor is coming off a 30 point shellacking over the Ryerson Rams, while the Lady Vees are looking to ride the momentum from the overtime thriller against the Laurier Golden Hawks.
The Lancers are led by the third year guard, Dranadia Roc (Montreal, Que.) and fourth year veteran Shavaun Reaney (Sherwood Park, Alt.). Roc averages 11.83 points per game, but torched the Lady Vees for 42 points, as a rookie, the last time she visited Sudbury. Reaney averages six assists and 2.67 steals per game, which puts her near the top for both OUA stats categories.
Windsor is also the highest scoring team in the CIS to date. The last meeting between these two squads, left the Lady Vees victorious on the road, winning 70-67.
"Windsor is a very talented team, and deserves to be ranked where they are," said Lady Vees head coach Mike Clarke in a release. "We need to be strong on rebounds, and play tough defense to control the run and gun style that the Lancers play".
On Saturday, Nov. 22, the Western Mustangs gallop into the Ben Avery Gymnasium, who are currently fourth in the OUA West with a 3-3 record. The Mustangs are spearheaded by fourth year forward, Bess Lennox (Ottawa, Ont.) and fourth year guard, Amanda Anderson (Dover Centre, Ont.).
Lennox averages 15.83 points per game, along with 12.17 rebounds per game. Anderson averages 15.5 points per game, along with a perfect 22/22 free throw percentage this season. Last seasons' battle between these two squads, Western earned a 60-56 victory in London.
"We always go toe-to-toe with Western. They have some talented players. We need to control their 3-point shooters, and focus on Amanda Anderson, who has stung us in the past," added Clarke in the release.
The Lady Vees are led by fourth year forward Darrah Bumstead (New Hamburg, Ont.) and fourth year guard Mylaine Mageau (Sudbury, Ont.)
Bumstead continues on her double/double rate per game, collecting 18.33 points per game, while averaging 13.67 rebounds per contest, which tops the CIS. Mageau has been deadly from behind the arch, leading the OUA with a 55.56% 3-point field goal percentage.
The Laurentian Lady Vees the top rebounding team in the OUA, but also second in Turnovers committed. Ball control will be crucial to gather two victories this weekend. Two victories would not only establish the Lady Vees as a contender for the OUA crown, but it would also allow head coach Mike Clarke to celebrate milestone, as he is currently sitting at 98 career wins and needs two more to reach the 100-wins plateau.
The Lady Vees are schedule to tip off on both evenings at 6 p.m.
