Playing the final weekend of a decorated, five-year career at McMaster, Linnaea Harper put together a comprehensive effort over three games at the U SPORTS Championship to help her team to the first national title in its history.
Harper was named as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament with balanced performances in all three rounds that the Marauders battled through.
She opened the event at Ryerson’s Mattamy Athletic Centre with a 14-point effort in McMaster’s 86-68 quarterfinal win over Concordia, and scored all of those points in a whirlwind second half.
Steady on both ends of the floor two days later, as the Marauders worked their way past the Saskatchewan Huskies and into the first national final of their history, Harper posted a double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and was clutch from the free throw line in knocking down eight of nine attempts.
Even while her team struggled to find its offensive rhythm for much of Sunday’s national final against the Laval Rouge et Or, Harper came through in the pivotal moments. She had 18 points and finished one rebound shy of a double double, and nailed the game’s signature shot with 1:20 to play.
Off-balance and well-guarded away from the basket, Harper knocked down a left-handed hook shot off the glass to give her team a 64-54 lead and effectively seal McMaster’s right to hoist the Bronze Baby trophy for the first time.
