Stars will be shining at the OUA Women's Basketball All-Star game, hosted by Western University

HAMILTON, Ont. – The stars of Ontario University Athletics (OUA) women’s basketball will be out on Saturday, May 3 as Western University plays host to the seventh annual OUA All-Star game, presented by Recharge with Milk. The game is slated for 8 p.m. from Alumni Hall, home of the Western Mustangs, and admission is free.

Leading the way for the West squad is OUA player of the year, and Western’s own Jenny Vaughan. The fifth-year guard had a recording breaking season for the Mustangs as the Dundas, Ont. native and OUA West first-team all-star, collected 506 points this year, marking the highest single-season total in OUA history.

Other OUA West award winners joining Vaughan include three-time OUA/CIS defensive player of the year Miah-Marie Langlois (Windsor, Ont.) from the OUA and CIS champion Windsor Lancers, and the OUA West Joy Bellinger Award winner Hailey Milligan (Brantford, Ont.) of the McMaster Marauders.

Other all-stars rounding out the West include Jessica Clemençon (St. Rambert, France) of the Windsor Lancers and Lakehead guard Jylissa Williams (Atlanta, Ga.) , who both garnered first-team status this season, plus second teamers Danielle Boiago (Hamilton, Ont.) from McMaster, Guelph’s Katherine MacTavish (Waterloo, Ont.), Laura Doyle  (Guelph, Ont.) of the Laurier Golden Hawks, Korissa Williams (Windsor, Ont.) from the University of Windsor and Sarnia, Ont. native Melissa Rondinelli, who will suit up on her home court. Team West will be coached by Windsor head coach Chantal Vallée, who was the OUA West and CIS coach of the year this season.

The East team will be lead by four members of the division-champion Queen’s Gaels; first team all-stars and Kingston, Ont. natives Liz Boag and Jenny Wright and all-rookie team member Andrea Priamo (Guelph, Ont.). Together Wright, Boag averaged 25 points per game during the regular season and provided a veteran presence to a Gaels team that went 16-6 in the regular season and earned an East Division crown. Priamo finished the year third on the team in rebounding in her debut campaign.

Perennial all-star and former rookie of the year Jill Stratton (Etobicoke, Ont.) from the University of Toronto rounds out the first team all-stars on the East squad. Joining her are second-teamers Keneca Pingue-Giles (Winnipeg) of the Ryerson Rams, Carleton’s Lindsay Shotbolt (Markham, Ont.) and Stephanie MacDonald (Ottawa) from the Ottawa Gee-Gees.

Joining Priamo as a rookie on Team East will be rookie of the year Heather Lindsay (Ottawa) from Carleton and her Ravens teammate McKenzie Sigurdson (Toronto).

Coaching Team East will be OUA East coach of the year Dave Wilson, from Queen’s.

The game itself is just one of many events for the all-stars during their weekend in London. The players will host free youth basketball clinics at the YMCA of London Centre Branch on May 3 from 1 to 4 p.m. Those wishing to register for a clinic can call 519-667-4400.

The tradition in recent years has been to host the OUA All-Star game in a city that is also hosting Ontario Cup tournaments with hopes of allowing Ontario Basketball and Ontario University Athletics to grow and the develop the women’s game together, and 2014 will be no different. The all-stars will be on hand at gyms around London on Sunday, May 4 to awards medals to participants in the U15 Girls Ontario Cup tournaments.
 
"Ontario Basketball is thrilled to continue the proud tradition of hosting the OUA women's all-star game during the Ontario Cup Provincial Championships," said Jason Jansson, executive director, Ontario Basketball. "We are excited to celebrate our invaluable partnership with OUA and showcase women's basketball in this province." 

Prior to tipoff on Saturday, May 3 all-star coaches Dave Wilson and Chantal Vallée will be hosting a Chalk Talk session.  The free event is open to all area coaches and will take place courtside in Alumni Hall at 6:30 p.m.  Interested coaches can kind find additional information about the session on the Tourism London website 

The seventh annual OUA Women’s Basketball All-Star game is taking place thanks to a dedicated group of sponsors and partners including presenting sponsor Recharge with Milk; official sponsors Wilson Sports Equipment Canada and ArcelorMittal Dofasco; plus event partners Western Mustangs Athletics, Ontario Basketball and Tourism London.

TEAM WEST ROSTER

Danielle Boiago – McMaster Marauders
Hailey Milligan – McMaster Marauders
Jenny Vaughan – Western Mustangs
Jessica Clemençon – Windsor Lancers
Jylisa Williams – Lakehead Thunderwolves
Katherine MacTavish – Guelph Gryphons
Korissa Williams – Windsor Lancers
Laura Doyle – Laurier Golden Hawks
Melissa Rondinelli – Western Mustangs
Miah-Marie Langlois – Windsor Lancers

Coach: Chantal Vallée – Windsor Lancers

TEAM EAST ROSTER

Andrea Priamo – Queen’s Gaels
Heather Lindsay – Carleton Ravens
Jenny Wright – Queen’s Gaels
Jill Stratton – Toronto Varsity Blues
Keneca Pingue-Giles – Ryerson Rams
Lindsay Shotbolt – Carleton Ravens
Liz Boag – Queen’s Gaels
McKenzie Sigurdson – Carleton Ravens
Stephanie MacDonald – Ottawa Gee-Gees

Coach: Dave Wilson – Queen’s Gaels