Three Stars: Ivicak, Coleman, Case earn honours

Kayla Ivicak had nine double doubles for the Griffins during the 2017-18 Canada West season, which is top five in the conference and set a new school record (Robert Antoniuk photo).
Kayla Ivicak had nine double doubles for the Griffins during the 2017-18 Canada West season, which is top five in the conference and set a new school record (Robert Antoniuk photo).

MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – Kayla Ivicak is MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after her performance in leading the Griffins women's basketball team against nationally-ranked Trinity Western over the weekend.

Ivicak had 20 points and 11 rebounds in Friday's game for her ninth double-double of the season – setting a new MacEwan University record for the most in a Canada West women's basketball campaign.

Other athletes recognized this week include second star Ryan Coleman of the men's basketball team and third star Nikita Case of the women's indoor track team.

Both Coleman and Case are being honoured for the first time this season, while Ivicak was previously named first star on Nov. 14.

1st STAR: Kayla Ivicak, G, women's basketball

St. Albert, AB, fourth-year, Commerce

With 20 points and 11 rebounds in Friday's 66-55 loss to the visiting Trinity Western Spartans, the veteran guard broke the MacEwan University record for the most double-doubles in a Canada West season with her ninth of the campaign. She also had an assist and a steal.

Previously, she shared the mark with Kelly Fagan (2014-15). The nine double-doubles she achieved tied her for fourth-best in the Canada West conference this season.

Ivicak added 14 points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal in Saturday's rematch, won 68-54 by TWU.

For the season, Ivicak led MacEwan in points (13.3 per game, 22nd in Canada West), rebounds (9.0, seventh in CW) and steals (2.5, sixth in CW).

2nd STAR: Ryan Coleman, F, men's basketball

Edmonton, AB, fifth-year, General Studies

Playing the final game of his gritty career on Saturday night, the Griffins' fifth-year forward led them in scoring with 21 points in a workhorse 40 minutes (among the highest totals in MacEwan history).

His final basket – a hard-nosed offensive rebound, leading to a layup off the glass with a defender on his hip – helped the Griffins to a 107-101 overtime victory over the Trinity Westerrn Spartans. Coleman added seven rebounds and two assists.

In Friday's 97-88 loss, he was also one of the Griffins' best players with 13 points, seven boards, three assists and a steal.

For the season, Coleman finished third on the Griffins with 10.2 points per game and third in rebounds (4.3). 

Ryan Coleman ended his university career with a bang on Saturday, scoring 21 points to lead MacEwan to a 107-101 overtime win over Trinity Western (Robert Antoniuk photo).

3rd STAR: Nikita Case, indoor track

Sherwood Park, AB, second-year, Open Studies

In the first sanctioned race that all three of MacEwan's standout women's 300-metre sprinters had against each other this season, Case came out on top.

The second-year competitor beat teammate Amanda Ntiamoah by a half stride to finish 27th in a field full of U SPORTS athletes in the women's 300 at Saturday's York University Open in Toronto. Her time of 42.36 was just off of her own ACAC record of 41.55, set last season.

Ntiamoah finished in 42.57 and fellow Griffin Valerie Schlottke was right there, too (42.66).

Case also ran a strong anchor leg for the MacEwan women's 4x400m relay, going from 20 metres behind Waterloo's final runner to 20 metres ahead at the finish line.

Nikita Case won an in-house MacEwan women's 300-metre sprinting battle over teammates Amanda Ntiamoah and Valerie Schlottke on Saturday (Robert Antoniuk photo).