SASKATOON – The No. 7 ranked University of Saskatchewan Huskies sealed second place in Canada West women's basketball with an 87-82 win over the No. 1 ranked University of Regina Cougars Saturday night on Ron & Jane Graham Court.
Needing a win to ensure hosting duties in conference playoffs until the final, the Huskies held off the Cougars bid for a second half comeback. Saskatchewan led 22-16 and 39-36 at halftime but, like the night previous, Regina found a second gear in the second half and led 61-58 at the end of the third.
Leading by one with one-minute remaining, Megan Lindquist hit a three-point shot to extend the Huskies' lead. Regina answered on the next trip up the court, but sent Lindquist to the foul line. The fifth-year guard sank both shots to seal the 87-82 win.
With the weekend split, the provincial rivals finish 1-2 in Canada West women's basketball based on RPI. Regina finished 18-2 and Saskatchewan 17-3 in the regular season standings. The top 12 teams are determined via season record, then a reseeding is done based on an RPI calculation.
Both the Huskies and Cougars will await their best-of-three quarter-final opponent after the Canada West Play-In single elimination games next weekend.
Sabine Dukate led the Huskies in the game recording a game-high 28 points including 18 of those in the first half, while Summer Masikewich added another 23 points. Lindquist added a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
The Cougars spread the offence around with five different players scoring double digits. Carolina Goncalves led the group with 23 points, while Sara Hubenig added 15 and Caitlin Zacharias 10. Lauryn Prokop scored 12 and Britton Belyk added 11 dfeom the bench. Zacharias led the Cougars on the boards with seven rebounds.
Regina shot at 44% in the game, while the Huskies shot at 41%. Saskatchewan won the battle on the boards outrebounding the Cougars 35-28.
Both teams will host Canada West quarter-final series February 15-18.