THE TEAM
Kathy Shields (Head Coach)
Carol Turney–Loos
Luanne Hebb
Sandy Lewis
Sue Shaw
Tracie McAra
Cindy Smith
Donna Digby
Jamie Mackie
Janine Prince
Karen Packalen
BIOGRAPHY
In only her second season as head coach, future University of Victoria Sports Hall of Famer and two-time CIAU/CIS Coach of the Year Kathy Shields led the 1979-80 UVic Vikes (then known as the "Vikettes") women’s basketball team to their first-ever CIAU National Championship.
The team’s storybook season began with an impressive 19-1 conference record as they outscored opponents 1518-970. Vikette Carol Turney-Loos was the league’s leading scorer for the second time in her career with 480 points and as a result was named a First Team All-Star alongside teammate Luanne Hebb. The Vikettes earned the Canada West crown on home court after defeating the University of Calgary Dinos in a two-game sweep in a best-of-three series.
After breezing through their conference and earning a ticket to the CIAU tournament, the Vikettes played their first championship game against the University of Alberta, winning by a 23-point margin with a final score of 71-48. In their second game, the Vikettes played conference rivals, Calgary Dinos. In a rather decisive victory, the Vikettes won 78-56, giving the UVic team a shot at the ultimate prize, a CIAU national title.
The championship final was a close-matched affair as both teams battled hard for CIAU top honours. By a mere five points, the Vikettes won their first national title with a final score of 64-59. As a result of her outstanding play in both the tournament and the season, Turney-Loos was deemed CIAU Tournament MVP as well as the CIAU Player of the Year. After coaching the team to its first national title, Vikettes’ head coach Shields was named both Canada West and CIAU Coach of the Year.
HIGHLIGHTS
[DOWNLOAD THE 1979-80 CANADA WEST YEAR IN REVIEW]
Canada West Record: 19-1 (1st)
Canada West Playoffs: 2-0 (Gold)
CIAU Record: 3-0 (Gold)
Canada West First Team All-Stars: Carol Turney-Loos, Luanne Hebb
CIAU Coach of the Year: Kathy Shields
CIAU Player of the Year (Nan Copp Award): Carol Turney-Loos
CIAU First Team All-Canadian: Carol Turney-Loos
CIAU Tournament MVP: Carol Turney–Loos
- 1980 CIAU National Champions (UVic’s first title)
- Outscored opponents 1518-970 during the regular season
- Defeated the University of Dalhousie Tigers on their home court in the 1980 Championship final (64-59)
