It just wasn’t Jennifer Jones’ week.
Any hopes of a repeat championship were dashed on Friday afternoon at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts when the Team Canada Jennifer Jones foursome suffered an 8-6 defeat to Northern Ontario’s Krista McCarville.
It was Jones’ fifth loss of the week, officially knocking her out of playoff contention. It’s the first time Jones has missed the playoff round in 14 appearances at the national women’s curling championship.
Just one year after two Manitoba-based teams made the Scotties final, neither Manitoba entry even made the playoffs.
The Team Manitoba Tracy Fleury rink were eliminated Thursday with an 8-5 loss to British Columbia’s Sarah Wark.
READ MORE: Manitoba ousted at the Scotties while Jennifer Jones is on the ropes
Jones fell behind early after giving up steals in the fourth and fifth ends. They answered back with a three-ender in the sixth end to take the lead back. They traded deuces in the seventh, eighth, and ninth ends, and Jones trailed by a single point with the hammer in the 10th end.
With last rock, Jones had a wide open draw for a single point to force an extra end. She just needed to find the house, but her final throw was way too light and Northern Ontario stole another point for the victory.
The loss leaves Jones with a 5-5 record for last place in the championship pool. They have one game remaining on Friday night against British Columbia’s Sarah Wark.
READ MORE: Jennifer Jones heads to championship round, while Manitoba needs tiebreaker at Scotties
None of the eight teams in the championship pool have officially locked up playoff spots, but only six teams still have a chance for the four playoff berths.
British Columbia is also out of playoff contention.
Jones was in search of a record setting seventh Scotties title as a skip.
The top four teams from the championship pool advance to the playoffs, which start on Saturday afternoon.
Standings Through Draw 18
Alberta 8-2
Ontario 8-2
Saskatchewan 7-3
Northern Ontario 7-3
Wild Card 7-3
Prince Edward Island 6-4
British Columbia 5-5
Canada 5-5
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