University of Victoria Athletics

2002-03 University of Victoria Women’s Basketball
 
CIS National Champions (Formally CIAU)
 
Women’s Roster

 
Brian Cheng (Head Coach)
Tara Beaucamp (Assistant Coach)
Lindsay Brooke (Assistant Coach)
Karen Wainman (Team Manager)
Krista Mullaly–Dobbin (Athletic Therapist) 



Biography
In 2001, the University of Victoria’s basketball Hall of Fame inductee Kathy Shields retired as head coach of the women’s basketball team. As Shields' assistant coach, Brian Cheng was named head coach. Cheng embarked on a challenging second season as head coach, as the women’s basketball team failed to make CIS nationals last season (2001-02). With the experience from both Cheng and his fifth year player Lindsay Anderson, the women’s basketball team flourished throughout the 2002-03 season.
 
Anderson averaged the most minutes per game and improved her shooting percentage by 0.40 from the previous season, raising the level of play for the Vikes team. She led the team with 59 steals and tallied up 30 offensive rebounds and 52 defensive rebounds. In 18 games, Anderson had 74 assists, hitting the top 10 charts for assists in the Canada West conference. Vikes key rebounder Jania Mynott secured the paint with 62 offensive rebounds and 65 defensive rebounds, while first-year Dani Everitt respectively made a statement. With consistent free throws of 0.717 percent, 81 rebounds and an aggressive shooting style, Everitt was a key player.
 
The No. 3 seeded Vikes hosted the No. 6 seeded University of Regina Cougars for the Canada West quarter-finals. The Vikes ousted the Cougars in the first game 53-46, but failed to deliver similar results in game two as they fell 36-63. In a do-or-die situation the Vikes defeated the Cougars, winning 63-58 in the best-of-three series. The victory advanced the UVic women’s basketball team to the Canada West Final Four hosted by Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Burnaby, BC. Vikes met No. 2 seed University of Winnipeg Wesmen in an opening match, but lost 76-62. Battling through, the women’s team defeated the University of Calgary 56-55. 
 
 
The bronze medal victory at the Canada West finals berthed the Vikes as a No. 6 seed to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) national championship tournament, formally known as Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU), hosted by McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. In a strong opening match, the Vikes defeated No. 3 seed Memorial University 72-64. Undeniably, the Vikes were underdogs as they met No. 2 seed Laval University in the semifinals. Cheng’s preparation ignited a fire for the Vikes as they overthrew Laval 60-30. Coming off the devastating loss at the Canada West tournament, the Vikes came face-to-face with their division rivals, the Winnipeg Wesman in the gold medal game. The Vikes solidified their sweet revenge as they defeated the Wesman 60-51 to take the 2003 CIS national title.
 
As a team, the UVic women’s basketball team outscored their opponents 462-443 during the playoffs. Krystal O’Byrne’s secured the teams points with a 0.432 field goal shooting percentage. Lindsay Hewson knocked down seven of her 21 shots from the point, while Everitt boxed-out to dominate defensive rebounds.
 
Anderson was the only Vike named to the Canada West first team all-star roster and was honoured as Canada West defensive player of the year. At the CIS national championship, Anderson was named to the Second Team All-Canadian roster and dubbed tournament most valuable player (MVP). Everitt was also honoured as CIS national tournament all-star.
 
Dani Sinclair (née Everitt) contribution to the Vikes Athletic and Recreation program has continued as she signed on to become the women’s assistant coach from 2006-09. In 2012 she was appointed head coach of the women’s basketball team and now successfully had taken over the Vikes women’s basketball program.
 
[Sinclair ‘honoured’ to lead University of Victoria Vikes women’s basketball team]
  
Season Highlights
Canada West Record: 14–6 (3^rd)
Canada West Playoffs: 1-1 (Bronze)
CIS Record: 3-0 (Gold)
 
Canada West First Team All-Star: Lindsay Anderson
Canada West Defensive Player of the Year: Lindsay Anderson
 
CIS National Tournament All-Star: Dani Everitt
CIS National MVP: Lindsay Anderson
CIS Second Team All-Canadian: Lindsay Anderson