Cape Breton's Keane and Dalhousie's Kanza Mata named Subway AUS Athletes of the Week

(HALIFAX, N.S.) - Cape Breton Capers women's basketball forward Colleen Keane and Dalhousie Tigers men's basketball guard Ritchie Kanza Mata have been named the Subway AUS Athletes of the Week for their respective performances for this past week.

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Name: Colleen Keane
University: Cape Breton University
Sport: Women’s Basketball
Position: Forward
Height: 5’9
Hometown: Scarborough, Ont.
Year of eligibility: Fifth
Academic program: BA

Colleen Keane of the Cape Breton Capers women’s basketball team is the Subway Atlantic University Sport female athlete of the week for the week ending March 5, 2017.

A fifth-year arts student from Scarborough, Ont., Keane was named the championship MVP of the Subway AUS Women’s Basketball Championship held this past weekend in Halifax.

The Capers earned a 55-53 win over the Memorial Sea-Hawks in the quarter-final round on Friday afternoon. Keane had six points, 15 rebounds and four steals in the win.

In Saturday’s semifinals, Keane had 10 points, six rebounds and three assists as the Capers topped the No. 2-seeded UNB Varsity Reds 56-52 to advance to Sunday’s finals.

Cape Breton earned a 79-61 victory over the Acadia Axewomen Sunday to claim their first AUS women’s basketball title since 2011. Keane had a double-double in the championship win, with 10 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and two blocks.

In addition to being named the championship MVP, Keane was named to the tournament all-star team. She was also named an AUS second team all-star at Thursday evening’s awards banquet for her performance in the regular season.

MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Name: Ritchie Kanza Mata
School: Dalhousie University
Sport: Men’s Basketball
Position: Guard
Height: 6’1
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
Year of eligibility: Fifth
Academic program: BA

Ritchie Kanza Mata of the Dalhousie Tigers men’s basketball team is the Subway Atlantic University Sport male athlete of the week for the week ending March 5, 2017.

A fifth-year arts student from Toronto, Kanza Mata was named the championship MVP at the Subway AUS Men’s Basketball Championship held this past weekend in Halifax.

In Saturday’s 78-75 Dalhousie victory over Acadia, he had 18 points, six rebounds and four assists and was named Subway Player of the Game for his efforts.

The Tigers topped the Saint Mary’s Huskies 63-60 on Sunday to claim their third consecutive conference title. Kanza Mata had 19 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals, and was named the Wilsons Security Defensive Player of the Game.

He was also named to the tournament all-star team.

At Thursday evening’s awards banquet, Kanza Mata was named an AUS first team all-star and the AUS defensive player of the year for his performance in the regular season.

He also set a new AUS career assists record this season, amassing 605 in his five years with the Tigers.