Cruickshank, Best named OUA Athletes of the Week
BURLINGTON, Ont. - The following athletes have been named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Athletes of the Week for the period ending March 14th, 2016.
BURLINGTON, Ont. - The following athletes have been named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Athletes of the Week for the period ending March 14th, 2016.
FEMALE: Caleigh Cruickshank (Etobicoke, Ont.) – 4th yr. – Toronto Varsity Blues – Volleyball
Caleigh Cruickshank (Etobicoke, Ont.) and the University of Toronto Varsity Blues capped off an unbeaten season with their first CIS championship in program history this past weekend.
On Thursday in the quarter-finals against the McGill Martlets, the fourth-year health studies student-athlete had a team high 16.5 points on 14 kills, 1.5 blocks and one ace. She also added 15 digs as the Blues survived the scare to advance to Saturday’s semifinal.
Against UBC Okanagan, the 6-foot-1 left side hitter went off for a game-high 22 points on 18 kills, three aces and one block and added eight digs as Toronto defeated the Heat 3-1.
The Etobicoke, Ont. capped off an outstanding championship with 8.5 points on eight kills and an assisted block and five digs in Sunday’s 3-0 win over the defending national champion Trinity Western Spartans.
Following the match, Cruickshank was named championship MVP and a member of the CIS tournament all-star team.
Cruickshank and the Blues became the first OUA team since the 1976 Western Mustangs to earn the national banner.
MALE: Aaron Best (Scarborough, Ont.) – 5th yr – Ryerson Rams – Basketball
The Ryerson Rams men’s basketball team captured their first OUA Wilson Cup championship in program history on their home court Saturday night thanks in large part to Aaron Best (Scarborough, Ont.).
On Friday night in the semifinals against the Lancers, the fifth-year business management major had a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, to go along with four assists and three steals in Ryerson’s 96-77 win over Windsor.
In the biggest game of his OUA career on Saturday night, Best shined in the spotlight, recording a game-high 21 points, five rebounds and a steal to lead Ryerson to a historic 73-68 victory over the defending Wilson Cup champion Carleton Ravens.
Following the game, the 6-foot-4 guard was named the Porter Airlines Player of the Game.
Best and the Rams will now prepare for the ArcelorMittal Dofasco CIS men’s basketball championship where they will enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed for the first time in program history.
