Mutch, Duinker, Ozimok earn AUBC awards

BY JOHN DECOSTE

jdecoste@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Becky Mutch had a breakout 2007-2008 season in her third year in an Acadia uniform and was rewarded for it with an AUBC all-star selection.

Mutch was chosen by the AUBC women’s basketball coaches to the second all-conference team after a season in which she established career highs in scoring (11.8 points per game), field goal percentage (47.4), rebounds (5.9) and steals (1.95 per game).

A graduate of North Nova Education Centre in New Glasgow whose parents now live in Kentville, Mutch showed steady improvement through the season and her performance was a major factor in the Axewomen securing an AUBC playoff berth.

She is the first Acadia women’s player to be chosen to either the first or second all-conference team since Lynn Robertson was a first-team selection in 1996-1997.

Mutch was one of three Axewomen recognized with awards during last weekend’s conference championship celebrations in Wolfville.

Duinker named Rookie of the Year

Emma Duinker was named the AUS women’s basketball Rookie of the Year and was named to the AUBC All-Rookie team. Brianne Ozimok is the AUS nominee for the Tracy MacLeod Award for determination and perseverence in overcoming adversity.

Duinker, a Horton High graduate from Cambridge, Kings Co., made an immediate impact on the Axewomen line-up in her first season.

A starter in 14 of Acadia’s 20 regular season games, she led the Axewomen (and all AUBC rookies) with 629 minutes played (31.5 per game), scored 8.5 points per game and had 4.7 rebounds per game. She shot 36.4 per cent from the floor (while leading her team in shots) and was good 29.3 per cent of the time from three-point range.

Ozimok was singled out for her “determination, perseverence and unwavering spirit to continue playing the game of basketball” in the face of potentially career-ending injury.

The 6’2” post player from Midhurst, Ont. returned to the court this season, her first at Acadia, after missing the 2006-2007 season with an ankle injury that required surgery.

This season, she led the Axewomen in scoring (13.3 points per game), rebounding (7.8 per game) and field goal percentage (48.2).

In addition, Duinker’s high school teammate, Jasmine Parent of Aylesford, joined her on the All-Rookie team. Parent, who plays for Saint Mary’s, started 11 of the 19 games she played for the Huskies, averaging 21 minutes per game. She averaged 6.6 points per game and led all AUBC rookies with 5.3 rebounds per game.