St. Thomas University has taken center stage as the host of this year’s Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Basketball National Championship — an opportunity to highlight the school’s competition.
“It’s an opportunity for us to showcase St. Thomas University, showcase Fredericton and get people excited,” said STU President Nauman Farooqi. “One thing is for sure — our team really tries their best.”
The event has brought high-level basketball to campus and elevated STU’s presence in Canadian collegiate sports.
“It sends the message that we’re ready to compete on a national stage,” said STU Athletics Director Meaghan Donahue. “Even though we’re a small school, we’re mighty in both performance and hosting capabilities. It really elevates our national profile and we’re so honoured to be doing it.”
For the Tommies, the championship journey hasn’t been without pressure — especially for a young team still finding its footing.
“I’d like to say hosting doesn’t add more pressure,” said Head Coach Fred Connors. “But the reality is, they put pressure on themselves because they care so much. The first half last night showed some nerves, but for a young team, I thought we handled it well. We made some great comebacks in the second half.”
The Tommies dropped their first game 73-42, against one of the top teams in the country, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Trojans. A tough opponent that the Tommies did not let up on until the final buzzer.
A full crowd of green and gold at the Richard J. Currie Center showed support for the Tommies.
Despite being eliminated from finals contention, the Tommies improved in their second game, losing a tighter game 74- 60 to Géants de Saint-Jean.
“We came out with a lot of grit,” said Tommies point guard Claudia Steeves. “No matter what the result was, we just wanted to play our best — and we’re proud of how we finished. Playing at home in front of a home crowd made it even more special. It really took some pressure off us because going in, we had nothing to lose.”
Connors shared that sentiment, emphasizing the team’s determination and unity as key to their performance.
“It’s incredible to see what happens when they just believe in themselves,” Connors said. “Once they trusted each other and got locked in, everything started to click. As a coach, it’s so rewarding to watch your players perform like that — fully committed, giving their all. Moments like that are special, no matter what the sport is.”
The energy from the home crowd played a major role in lifting the Tommies’ spirits, giving them the boost they needed in crucial moments. From chants in the stands to familiar faces in the crowd, the home-court advantage was impossible to ignore.
“Knowing you have your friends, classmates and family watching just makes you want to play even harder,” Steeves added. “It pushes you to keep fighting even when things aren’t going your way.”
The Tommies ended up with a win in their third and final game against a familiar conference opponent, Mount Saint Vincent University.
They beat the Mystics 71-67, taking seventh in the national tournament.
