STU Women and MSVU Men Win ACAA Basketball Titles
Saint Thomas and Mount Saint Vincent Universities won the women's and men's ACAA basketball championships and the right to advance to the CCAA national championship tournament later this month. Both teams were the top seeded teams entering the tournament. STU defeated MSVU 60-53 in a well-played and exciting women's final while the MSVU men's team showed why they have been ranked # 1 in the national rankings for most of the season, as they recorded a 76-43 win over ABU, and their fourth championship title in as many years.

On Friday in the women's quarter final action Mount Allison defeated UNBSJ 68-34 and ABU defeated Holland College 67-51 to advance to the semi finals. In men's action, Holland College defeated Kings 79-58 while UNBSJ got a late basket from all-star Scott Hachey to edge the host Mounties 76-74 in the most exciting game of the tournament.

At the tournament banquet on Friday evening Mount Allison's Athletic Director Jack Drover received thanks and recognition from the conference for his dedicated and long-serving role in the ACAA. He was presented a plaque by ACAA chair Ron O'Flaherty. Conference awards were also announced (the winners are listed below).

On Saturday afternoon, the STU women easily defeated ABU 75-37 in one semi final while MSVU defeated the host Mounties 58-34 in the other. In men's action MSVU defeated UNBSJ 82-51 and ABU won 81-72 over Holland college in a well-played game. This set the stage for Sunday's finals.

The STU-MSVU women's game was exciting from start to finish. STU jumped out to an early 10-2 lead at the end of the first quarter but MSVU outscored STU 16-12
in the second quarter to make it 22-18 at the half. The lead changed hands many times in the second half before STU pulled away late in the game to win their
first women's basketball title in 12 years.

Player of the game Pam Carvell lead the Tommies in scoring with 16 points while league MVP Alicia Sterling chipped in with 13. Katherine Brien lead MSVU with 10 points.

In the men's final, MSVU also jumped out to an early lead and then coasted to victory. The Mystics lead 41-20 at the half and were clearly ready to defend their league title, for a fourth consecutive season. The final score was 76-43. Ibrahaim Toulany lead the Mystics in scoring with 22 points while league MVP and player of the game Jason Carlson scored 16. Brian Durkee was the best of the Blue Tide scoring 20 points.

The CCAA women's national tournament is being hosted by Ste. Foy, PQ while the men's is being hosted by the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) in Prince George, BC.