Tanner Michalenko, Saskatchewan Sports Information Student Assistant
SASKATOON – A complete group effort gave the University of Saskatchewan Huskies a 97-64 win over the University of Winnipeg Wesmen in Game 3 of a Canada West best-of-three quarter-final series Saturday on Ron & Jane Graham Centre Court at the PAC.
Sabine Dukate and Summer Masikewich both had efficient shooting performances in the elimination game for the Huskies. Dukate shot 7-for-15 from the field, including 6-of-8 from beyond the arc for 21 points, while adding four rebounds and four assists. Masikewich fouled out midway through the fourth with 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting, and six rebounds.
Three more Huskie shooters finished with double digits on the night, thanks in part to second-year guard Libby Epoch's eight assists in the game. Maya Olynyk finished with 12 points off the bench, while starters Megan Ahlstrom and Megan Lindquist finished with 11 and 10 points respectively.
Saskatchewan earns a 2-1 Canada West quarter-final series win and will host a semifinal series against the Trinity Western Spartans. The Huskies won the opening game of the series 76-58 before the Wesmen forced a deciding game with a 93-85 victory in Game 2.
The Huskies jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first and never looked back. Their starting lineup all recorded a bucket as they forced a Wesmen timeout just minutes into the opening quarter. Saskatchewan took a 28-14 lead into the second. A 12-4 run midway through the second stretched the Huskie lead to 23 at the halftime break, at 52-29.
The second half started similar to the first as the Huskies stretched their lead to 35 halfway through the quarter. Olynyk strung together three of four straight Huskie baskets to take an 80-47 lead in the fourth.
Saskatchewan has not lost a Canada West elimination home playoff game since the 2008-09 season.
Game 1 of the semifinal series begins Thursday, Game 2 is slated for Friday, and Game 3, if needed, will happen on Saturday. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. each night.