Dukate’s 21 points power Huskies past host Ravens

Saskatchewan advances to semifinals on Saturday against Laval Rouge et Or

Sabine Dukate came out to play Thursday night.

Dukate drained 13 points in the opening quarter to help spark a 73-59 victory for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies over the host Carleton University Ravens in U Sports Final 8 national championship quarter-final action at TD Place Arena in Ottawa.

“The nerves cut in and the shot went on,” said Dukate, who finished the night with 21 points, including five treys.

“First game is so important for every team. We want to have (Friday) off, so we come in first game and it’s all or nothing, and we played our best game.”

The Huskies now advance to national semifinal action Saturday against the Laval Rouge et Or, who defeated the University of Alberta Pandas 59-52 in quarter-final action earlier Thursday.

It was a tough night for Canada West teams other than Saskatchewan

as the University of Calgary Dinos lost a 72-71 heartbreaker to Ontario University Sport’s Brock University Badgers.

Meanwhile, Dukate and the Huskies had a red-hot start against the Ravens.

Saskatchewan shot well over 60 per cent from the floor in the first quarter Thursday night, including a 60-plus per cent clip from beyond the arc as the Huskies built up a 19-point lead, 30-11, after the first quarter.

Saskatchewan led 46-32 at the half, leading as much as 21 in the first half.

It was 58-41 for the Huskies going into the final quarter.

Katriana Philipenko chipped in with 13 points, hitting a trio of three-pointers.

U Sports first-team all-canadian Summer Masikewich had 11 points and seven rebounds for the Huskies, who held a 45-32 edge in overall rebounding.

Megan Ahlstrom added nine points for Saskatchewan, who got 10 rebounds apiece from Libby Epoch and Carly Ahlstrom

Madison Reid paced the Ravens with 18 points. Rookie point guard Kali Pocrnic added 14 for Carleton.

Carleton’s top player, Alyssa Cerino, saw limited action for the Ravens. Cerino, who was coming back from a leg injury, was scoreless in the first half.

This is Saskatchewan’s seventh straight trip to nationals with another Bronze Baby on the line.

Saskatchewan won its one and only U Sports national championship crown, and Bronze Baby, back in 2016. A trio of fifth years — Megan Ahlstrom, Vera Crooks and Dukate — were all part of the team that won the program’s lone national title in 2016. They’ll look to cap off their Huskies career with another.

Saskatchewan placed fourth a year ago after a 73-66 semifinal loss to eventual champion Mcmaster and 63-62 setback against the Ottawa Gee-gees in the bronze-medal game.

The Huskies won their fourth conference title in five years this year after defeating the Alberta Pandas last weekend in Saskatoon.