Axewomen finally reach top ten with 14-0 record

WOLFVILLE, N.S. - After nine CIS Top Ten coach's polls, the undefeated Acadia Axewomen are finally ranked in the Nation's University women's basketball top ten coach's poll.

With a 14-0 record and six games remaining in their regular season schedule, the Axewomen have turned heads of those following AUS women's basketball but obviously not those beyond the borders of Atlantic Canada.

While the critics of the AUS women's basketball conference may see it as league of weaker stature, there is no doubt that any team running the tables like the Acadia squad is doing has to be viewed as a Top Ten worthy team.

The Axewomen and the Saskatchewan Huskies are the only teams remaining in Canada with a undefeated record. The Huskies sit on top of the Canada West Conference standings with a 14-0 record. The only visible difference is that the Huskies have been the number one team in the country for seven weeks while Acadia finally reaches the top ten this week after their 14^th straight win in a row this past Saturday night at the AUS Varsity Showdown at the Halifax Scotiabank Centre against the Dalhousie Tigers in front of 1500 fans.

Critics point out that Acadia has yet to play against the three time defending AUS champion Saint Mary's Huskies (11-1). The Axewomen have also not played the CIS women's basketball championship host UNB (9-4).

This weekend the Axewomen host Cape Breton (9-4) for two 2pt. games on Friday and Saturday nights. In the opening weekend of the AUS schedule, Acadia defeated the Capers in Sydney, N.S. by two points in the first game and six points in the second.

After this weekend's games against Cape Breton, the Axewomen head to Saint Mary's for the first of two games. Acadia will then host two games in a row at home including UNB and Saint Mary's followed by the season concluding single game at UNB.

The season thus far has been a record breaking year. Second year guard Paloma Anderson set a new record for the most points in a game by an Axewomen of 41, beating Alise Brown's previous record of 40 set in 2011.

 The 14-0 record thus far is the best start by any Axewomen basketball team as far back as records can show. The best season record to date by an Acadia women's basketball team is 17-3 posted in the championship season of 2011-12.

Time will tell in the coming weeks how good this team is.

After not making the playoffs last season with a 4-16 record, AUS fans know this team is legitimate after the addition of Phoenix Arizona guard Paloma Anderson. Anderson joined the Axewomen after the Christmas break last season and made an immediate impact.

A great recruiting year by former head coach Bev Greenlaw and new coach Len Harvey, combined with the addition of Anderson and Harvey has given the Axewomen a new look and feel that seems to be working.

A quick glance will tell you that the team is playing with confidence combined with leadership from an assortment of players including Anderson. But dig deeper and it's the hard work that has contributed to their success. Harvey has instilled a strong work ethic and the team is seeing the results of tireless dedication to strength, conditioning and studying the game.

How much does the recent top ten ranking mean to the team and Coach Harvey?

"I think the ranking is more important for our conference, as we have two AUS teams in the top 10 currently, something that doesn't happen often for us. As for the team, we are staying in the moment and remain firmly focused on a strong CBU Capers team coming in to War Memorial Gym this weekend", replied Harvey.

The Axewomen host the always tough Cape Breton Capers for two 2pt. games this weekend beginning on Friday night at 6pm followed by Saturday's 6pm start.

The Capers come off of a four game winning streak with wins against StFX and UPEI.