Tanner Michalenko, Saskatchewan Sports Information Student Assistant
SASKATOON – University of Winnipeg's Antoinette Miller and Robyn Boulanger combined for 57 points in Game 2 of a Canada West best-of-three quarter-final series to lift the Wesmen 93-85 over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Friday night on Ron & Jane Graham Centre Court at the PAC.
Miller, Canada West's leading scorer, finished the night with with a game-high 31 points, eight rebounds and five assists in 40 minutes of play. Boulanger added 26 for team, going 6-for-8 from beyond the arc and missing just two field goals at 9-for-11.
With the win, the Wesmen force a deciding Game 3 Saturday. Saskatchewan won Game 1 76-58.
Up five at the halftime break at 38-33, Winnipeg's offence kicked into gear to start the second half. An 18-4 run in under five minutes stretched the lead to 19. Faith Hezekiah kicked it off with a three-pointer to start the quarter and added another jump shot. The Wesmen only missed two shots during the run and went on to take a 20 point lead into the fourth at 69-49.
The reigning Canada West championship Huskies wouldn't go quietly. Brianna Fehr had back-to-back steals at the top of the final quarter, leading to Huskie baskets. It sparked the start of 36 points for Saskatchewan in the frame. Two Kelsey Lalor and one Fehr three-point shot later, the Huskies were down by six with one minute remaining. But Miller and Boulanger went 6-for-6 from the line to seal the win.
Kyla Shand had a team-high 15 points off the bench for Saskatchewan. She also added six rebounds. Fehr added another 12 from the bench, while Megan Lindquist led the starters with 12.
Winnipeg finished the game shooting 44%, while the Huskies shot at 42%.
Tipoff for Game 3 is 7 p.m. Saturday night. The winner will advance to a Canada West semifinal series.