Busy weekend for Huskie athletics
The U of S Huskies women’s basketball team is hoping to capture a sixth consecutive berth in the Canada West championship, and they have to run past the Lethbridge Pronghorns to get there. Kevin Mitchell has more on a busy weekend for Huskie Athletics. 1. AT THE PAC
The Huskies — who grabbed the No. 1 seed in the conference after a 16-4 regular season — will play Lethbridge (12-8) in a best-ofthree semifinal starting Thursday at 7 p.m. Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) go Friday and Saturday, also at 7 p.m.
Saskatchewan has played in five straight conference title matches. They lost 75-55 to Regina last year, after capturing three of four Canada West championships leading up to that.
The winner of this weekend’s series will advance both to the conference final, and to the national championship tournament.
In the other women’s basketball conference semifinal, the Calgary Dinos host the Regina Cougars.
2. TOUGH AT HOME
The Huskies won all 12 games they played at the PAC this season, and swept the Pronghorns in their Jan. 4-5 Saskatoon series.
The Huskies won the first game 93-59 and followed with a 76-57 victory.
Saskatchewan advanced to the semifinal by beating Winnipeg 84-75 and 102-56 last weekend at the PAC; Lethbridge beat Alberta 90-66 and 67-60.
3. ON THE STATS SHEET
Nobody on either team cracked the conference top-10 scoring list. Saskatchewan’s Sabine Dukate is 13th with 15.6 points per game, and Kacie Bosch from Lethbridge is 17th with 15.1 per contest.
4. ALSO HAPPENING
Several Huskies teams are competing in playoffs this weekend.
The men’s hockey team is hosting Mount Royal Friday, Saturday and Sunday (if necessary) in a best-of-three conference semifinal.
The men’s basketball team is playing a best-of-three conference semifinal starting Thursday in Calgary.
The men’s volleyball team is playing a best-of-three quarter-final starting Friday at Mount Royal.
The women’s hockey team is playing a best-of-three semifinal starting Friday in Alberta.
The wrestling team is competing at nationals in Calgary.
The track and field team is at the conference championship in Edmonton.
5. THE STARS COME OUT
Four members of the Huskies men’s hockey team earned allstar honours Wednesday, and another earned a spot on the Canada West all-rookie team.
Saskatchewan’s first-team all-stars are defenceman Jesse Forsberg, goaltender Taran Kozun and forward Carson Stadnyk. Forward Kohl Bauml is a second-team selection, and defenceman Gordie Ballhorn was named to the all-rookie squad.
In women’s hockey, Huskies defenceman Leah Bohlken was named a first-team all-star.