It’s a crucial final weekend of the 2019-20 Atlantic University Sport regular season for both Memorial University basketball teams, but even though wins over the visiting UPEI Panthers is a shared objective, the motivation is markedly different for the two Sea-Hawks sides.
The Memorial men’s need is simple. They require two wins over the Panthers in order to claim the sixth and final playoff spot in the AUS men’s conference.
Acadia’s 79-69 victory over the Saint Mary’s Huskies Wednesday put the Axemen, who have finished their regular-season schedule and currently hold that final berth, six points up on seventh-place Memorial. However, since these games against the Panthers are each worth four points, a Sea-Hawks sweep would put them in the conference championship tournament beginning Feb. 28 in Halifax.
The games hold that extra points value because they represent the only head-to-head games between Memorial and UPEI, which sits in last place.
But even though the Panthers have only won three of 18 games so far, Sea-Hawks head coach Peter Benoite noted the visitors have “had a lot of close games, so they are much better than their record suggests.”
Memorial’s Cole Long says the situation should ensure there won’t be any complacency on the team.
“Our first round of the playoffs is this weekend,” said Long, who leads the conference in scoring with a 20.9 points-per-game average.
The Memorial women clinched a playoff spot quite a while ago, but at stake this weekend is a potential first-round playoff bye.
With six teams advancing to the post-season tournament (the women’s championship also starts Feb. 28 in Halifax), the top two finishers will earn berths directly to the semifinal.
The Acadia women have already secured one of those two spots. The other will go to either Memorial or UPEI, who enter the weekend with 38 points each.
A sweep by either side will obviously secure them that top-two finish. A split will necessitate the application of tiebreaker rules.
The Lady-Hawks will take the opportunity to put the spotlight on graduating seniors Jane Baird and Haille Nickerson, who will be playing the last home games of their Sea-Hawks careers.
But while it will assuredly be an emotional time for the two guards, they know they will be counted on to lead the team in these important games.
As point guard, Baird is Memorial’s floor general, while Nickerson is the team’s offensive leader. Her 24.7 ppg is best not only in the AUS, but in all of U Sport Canadian university basketball.
Nickerson isn’t only in line for possible scoring crowns; with 444 total points through 18 games, she’s 24 points away of eclipsing Memorial’s single-season scoring record of 467 set by Michelle Healey in 1995-96.
Today’s women’s game is at 6 p.m., followed by the men’s contest at 8 p.m.
The Saturday games are noon (women) and 2 p.m.
