Canada West Communications
VANCOUVER - As Canada West women's basketball gets set to make its return to the court this weekend, the Winnipeg Wesmen are the early favourites to win the conference title.
The conference released its annual coaches preseason poll Thursday, as teams ready to start the 2021-22 regular season.
Winnipeg picked up 14 of a possible 16 first-place votes and finished atop the poll with 252 total points.
MacEwan was ranked 13th after receiving 70 points.
The defending conference and national champion Saskatchewan Huskies came in second with 227 points. The Fraser Valley Cascades received one first-place vote and finished third in the poll with 219 points with the Calgary Dinos right behind them with 217 points and a pair of first-place selections.
The road to the conference championships begins tonight, with the UBC Thunderbirds hosting the Trinity Western Spartans. On Friday, 14 more teams get their seasons underway with a full slate of conference action available live on Canada West TV Presented by Co-op. Season passes are available for purchase by clicking here.
For a complete look at all 17 CW women's teams, check out the season preview here.
2021-22 CW WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
Team / Points (First-place votes)
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Winnipeg Wesmen / 252 (14)
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Saskatchewan Huskies / 227
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Fraser Valley Cascades / 219 (1)
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Calgary Dinos / 217 (2)
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Regina Cougars /193
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Alberta Pandas / 191
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Victoria Vikes / 168
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Lethbridge Pronghorns / 133
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UBC Thunderbirds / 120
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Trinity Western Spartans / 117
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UBCO Heat / 116
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Manitoba Bisons / 103
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MacEwan Griffins / 70
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UNBC Timberwolves / 67
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Mount Royal Cougars / 58
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Thompson Rivers WolfPack / 38
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Brandon Bobcats / 23
NOTES: First-place votes worth 16 pts., second-place 15 pts. etc.
MacEwan Griffins preview
2019-20 CW regular season record: 2-18, 16th
2019-20 post-season record: Missed playoffs
Head coach: Katherine Adams (6th season) / 19-63 career record
Last CW championship / total CW championships: None
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: None
2019-20 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 56.5 PPG, 16th
Defence: 75.9 PPG, 16th
2019-20 CW regular season leaders:
Points per game: 13.6 – Mackenzie Farmer, G*
3PT Field Goals: 22/68 – Hannah Gibb, PG*
Assists per game: 1.7 – Mady Chamberlin, PG*
Rebounds per game: 4.4 – Shannon Majeau, P & Mackenzie Farmer, G*
Blocks per game: 0.8 – Mackenzie Farmer, G*
*Returning
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Julie Dueck / G / 1 / Abbotsford, BC / Yale Secondary
Mikah Reed / G / 1 / Sherwood Park, AB / Strathcona Christian
Mackenzie Reeve / F / 1 / Sherwood Park, AB / Salisbury
Erin Howes / G / 1 / Beaumont, AB / Strathcona
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Rachel Hare / G / Kelowna, BC / 2
Ellie McCarthy / P / Kelowna, BC / 4
Key performer:
Name: Mackenzie Farmer
Position: Forward
Year: 4
Hometown: Sherwood Park, AB
The Griffins' reigning MVP from 2019-20 has done it all for the team at both ends of the court over her university career – consistently finishing among the squad's leaders in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocks.
Heading into her fourth season of eligibility, Farmer figures to be one of the best players in Canada West this season as she leads a Griffins team hungry to make some noise in he playoffs for the first time since 2017.
