WBB: Huskies outlast Dinos en route to Final Four
March 6, 2022
CALGARY - The top-seeded University of Saskatchewan Huskies women's basketball team used an 11-0 run early in the third quarter to flip the script and hang on from there, successfully navigating past an upset bid from eighth-seeded Calgary Dinos for a 72-62 win Sunday afternoon in the first Canada West quarter-final contest from the Jack Simpson Gym.
The Dinos started the game on fire, scoring the first seven points of the game and holding a 27-19 lead on 11-16 shooting (69 percent) after one. The Huskies were able to slowly chip away, however, cutting the lead to just one at the break before going ahead early in the third and keeping Calgary at arm's length the rest of the way.
"I thought we had a slow start. Calgary was on fire in the first quarter," Huskie's head coach Lisa Thomaidis said. "We knew the first quarter was going to be critical for us, trying to weather the storm. I think we weathered it and then just kind of hung in there.
"Defensively, we just really picked it up in the second half and did a much better job. We kind of grinded it out on the offensive end. I'm really proud of our players. It wasn't the easiest of wins, that's for sure. We had to execute for 40 and we got the job done."
Second Team Canada West All-Star Carly Ahlstrom led all players with 24 points to go with eight rebounds. Gage Grassick notched a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while First Team All-Star Summer Masikewich was held relatively in check by the Dinos defence down low, limiting her to 10 points on 5-22 shooting.
Freshman Amalie Collin led the scoring for the Dinos with 19 points. CW All-Rookie honouree Annacy Palmer added another 11, while Veronika Lavergne finished with six points to go with 14 rebounds and four blocks in another dominant defensive performance in the post.
For the Dinos, the upset bid was on early. Mya Proctor connected on the game's first shot, followed by a triple by Palmer and a driving layup from senior Reyna Crawford to make it 7-0 and quickly breathe life into the home crowd. An and-one play from Collin made it 12-3 less than three minutes into the game and a triple by Proctor just before the end of the first gave Calgary a 27-19 lead after one.
While the Dinos were able to hold the lead the entirety of the second frame, the Huskies were able to close the gap and made it a one-point game at the break after a three from Ahlstrom just before the buzzer.
After a three by Palmer to start the second half and make it 41-37, the Huskies clamped down on D and started getting some offensive rhythm of their own. Katriana Philipenko started the run with a steal and score, followed by seven consecutive points from Ahlstrom to flip the game on its head. Another bucket by Philipenko closed the run and made it 48-41 with 6:36 left in the quarter - maintaining that lead through the rest of the frame.
Calgary had a strong defensive showing of its own in the fourth, limiting Saskatchewan to just 14-percent shooting (2-14) over the final 10 minutes, but could get no closer than five down the stretch as untimely turnovers proved too costly.
"Some of the gremlins that turned up in the season, turned up in the second half," Dinos head coach Damien Jennings said. "I'm really proud of the group and the way they went at it. We're very proud of the seniors and what they've done, as well as the new players that have only been here for a year. Even though its earlier than we wanted to finish, it's nice that it's at home. I hope this youthful, talented group has aggressive learning going on."
The Huskies will now host the CW Final Four, set to begin March 18.
The Dinos started the game on fire, scoring the first seven points of the game and holding a 27-19 lead on 11-16 shooting (69 percent) after one. The Huskies were able to slowly chip away, however, cutting the lead to just one at the break before going ahead early in the third and keeping Calgary at arm's length the rest of the way.
"I thought we had a slow start. Calgary was on fire in the first quarter," Huskie's head coach Lisa Thomaidis said. "We knew the first quarter was going to be critical for us, trying to weather the storm. I think we weathered it and then just kind of hung in there.
"Defensively, we just really picked it up in the second half and did a much better job. We kind of grinded it out on the offensive end. I'm really proud of our players. It wasn't the easiest of wins, that's for sure. We had to execute for 40 and we got the job done."
Second Team Canada West All-Star Carly Ahlstrom led all players with 24 points to go with eight rebounds. Gage Grassick notched a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while First Team All-Star Summer Masikewich was held relatively in check by the Dinos defence down low, limiting her to 10 points on 5-22 shooting.
Freshman Amalie Collin led the scoring for the Dinos with 19 points. CW All-Rookie honouree Annacy Palmer added another 11, while Veronika Lavergne finished with six points to go with 14 rebounds and four blocks in another dominant defensive performance in the post.
For the Dinos, the upset bid was on early. Mya Proctor connected on the game's first shot, followed by a triple by Palmer and a driving layup from senior Reyna Crawford to make it 7-0 and quickly breathe life into the home crowd. An and-one play from Collin made it 12-3 less than three minutes into the game and a triple by Proctor just before the end of the first gave Calgary a 27-19 lead after one.
While the Dinos were able to hold the lead the entirety of the second frame, the Huskies were able to close the gap and made it a one-point game at the break after a three from Ahlstrom just before the buzzer.
After a three by Palmer to start the second half and make it 41-37, the Huskies clamped down on D and started getting some offensive rhythm of their own. Katriana Philipenko started the run with a steal and score, followed by seven consecutive points from Ahlstrom to flip the game on its head. Another bucket by Philipenko closed the run and made it 48-41 with 6:36 left in the quarter - maintaining that lead through the rest of the frame.
Calgary had a strong defensive showing of its own in the fourth, limiting Saskatchewan to just 14-percent shooting (2-14) over the final 10 minutes, but could get no closer than five down the stretch as untimely turnovers proved too costly.
"Some of the gremlins that turned up in the season, turned up in the second half," Dinos head coach Damien Jennings said. "I'm really proud of the group and the way they went at it. We're very proud of the seniors and what they've done, as well as the new players that have only been here for a year. Even though its earlier than we wanted to finish, it's nice that it's at home. I hope this youthful, talented group has aggressive learning going on."
The Huskies will now host the CW Final Four, set to begin March 18.