Jennifer Jones wins 5th Scotties Tournament of Hearts title

Manitoba's Jennifer Jones defeated Alberta's Val Sweeting 6-5 in the titlegame Sunday night at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

Jones hit an open draw with her last throw in the 10th end for her fifth career national title.

"It was a little close for comfort, but we managed to pull it off in the end," Jones said.

It was a back-and-forth battle in front of an enthusiastic near-sellout crowd of 3,992 at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw, Sask.

Jones opened with a deuce but Sweeting pulled even with a pair of her own in the second end. After a blank, Jones hit a takeout for one but Sweeting answered again with a single in the fifth.

The teams continued to exchange singles with Sweeting hitting a draw to the four-foot to tie the game at five in the ninth end. Jones had the hammer in the 10th and took advantage.

"We made eight great shots in the last end and that's really what won it for us," Jones said.

Jones missed the Scotties last year as she led her Winnipeg team of third Kaitlyn Lawes, second Jill Officer and lead Dawn McEwen to Olympic gold at the Sochi Games.

Sweeting, who lost to Rachel Homan in the 2014 final in Montreal, was joined by Edmonton teammates Lori Olson-Johns at third, second Dana Ferguson and lead Rachelle Brown.

Canada's Rachel Homan takes bronze

Earlier in the day, Homan hit a draw to the four-foot for a 7-5 victory over Saskatchewan's Stefanie Lawton in the third-place game.

The bronze capped a mixed week for the two-time champions. They have been trying to find their groove this season after the departure of coach Earle Morris and the addition of Joanne Courtney, who replaced longtime second Alison Kreviazuk.

"We're building and we're fast-tracking as much as we can," Homan said. "I think we proved this week that we're on the right track. Winning that bronze was really special for us."

On Saturday, Lawton beat Homan 8-7 in the three-four Page Playoff game before losing the semifinal to Sweeting.

A few days after Homan won silver at last year's world championship, Kreviazuk announced her plans to leave the team to be with her boyfriend in Sweden. Morris also ended his long run with the rink to coach his son John and Team Morris.

Courtney joined Homan, third Emma Miskew and lead Lisa Weagle last spring after a three-year run on Sweeting's rink. The Homan side has not used a full-time coach this season.

The Ottawa team was in form Sunday as Homan threw at 90 per cent and the team came in at 87 per cent.

"It wasn't the game that we wanted out there," Lawton said. "The girls played hard. I just wish I would have started a little stronger and maybe thrown a few more draws throughout the game."

Homan beat Jones for her first Scotties title in 2013 at Kingston, Ont. Sweeting made her first Scotties final appearance last year.