U of S women place second again
Mature Carleton team turns on jets in second half to claim women’s hoops title
RAVENS 69, HUSKIES 48
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies couldn’t quite get a good grasp on the Bronze Baby trophy Sunday night in Regina.
It was the tale of two halves for the Huskies in the U Sports Final 8 women’s basketball championship final against the top-ranked Carleton University Ravens.
The youthful Huskies — who led by as many as six points in the first half — carried a 25-24 lead into the second half, where the veteranladen Ravens outscored them 4523 for a 69-48 victory.
It marked the 10th appearance at nationals in 11 years for Saskatchewan, which won its first-ever Bronze Baby and national title in 2016.
“You hate to say you’re happy to be here but, honestly, we’re ecstatic that we got to the national final given some of the circumstances that we’re playing with (due to injuries),” said U of S head coach Lisa Thomaidis, whose Huskies were Canada West conference champions in 2017, 2016, 2013, 2011 and 2006.
“No one expected us to get this far. I think we just ran out of gas a little bit against a very powerful team. We’re pretty proud that we got this far. Obviously we really wanted this one but just didn’t have enough.”
Summer Masikewich paced Saskatchewan with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Rookie post Kyla Shand had nine points. Point guard Libby Epoch added eight points while Sabine Dukate, who went 1-for-12 from the floor, was held to only three points after putting on a shooting clinic in the national semifinal Saturday against Regina.
“We typically make anywhere between seven and 10 three’s a game and we only had two (Sunday),” noted Thomaidis. “Every shot was difficult. They’re a very good defensive team. We didn’t have any easy open looks.”
Saturday ’s win over the host Regina Cougars took its toll.
“Saturday was such an emotional victory (in front of a packed house),” added Thomaidis. ” That was a huge win for us. It took a lot out of us. We just didn’t have it (Sunday) and (Carleton) had a lot to do with that. Their defensive intensity and how they defended Sabine was very difficult for us to manage. They showed why they’re
We’re pretty proud that we got this far. Obviously we really wanted this one but just didn’t have enough.
a bunch of fifth-year players running around out there, compared to a lot of our second- and third-years. They just have a maturity to their game that ours don’t have quite yet. They have a lot of weapons. They weren’t shooting very well in the first half but they got it going in the second and we didn’t have an answer for it.”
The top-ranked Ravens capped off an undefeated season, becoming only the fourth school to do so, while winning the Bronze Baby for the very first time.
“It feels special, especially with the girls we had on our team who have been with us for five years,” said Carleton head coach Taffe Charles.
“I’m just so happy that they were able to finish off like this.”