WBB: Pandas Upset Top Ranked Huskies in Canada West Semi-Final
February 25, 2023
SASKATOON, SK - The Canada West Semi-Final between the #1 University of Saskatchewan Huskies and #3 Alberta Pandas ran Saturday night in Saskatoon at the Physical Activity Complex.
Fans were treated to an incredible afternoon of basketball, as the Alberta Pandas upset the top ranked Saskatchewan Huskies by a score of 69-57.
"It's an amazing feeling anytime you get to take a team to the national championship," said Alberta Head Coach Scott Edwards. "It's a special group of athletes and I'm really proud of them and really happy for them."
Saskatchewan's starters for the semi-final were Logan Reider,Carly Ahlstrom, Tea DeMong, Gage Grassick, and Kyla Shand. Alberta would go with Shae McCusker, Jenna Harpe, Emma Kary, Morgan Harris, and Claire Signatovich as their starting five.
The Pandas dominated the first half of play in Saskatoon, with an impressive offence and a defence that kept the Huskies to just five points in the second quarter. Saskatchewan would have three-point troubles in the first half, going 1 for 16 (6%), while Alberta was a bit more conservative with their shots, going 2 for 8 (25%). Alberta would head to the locker room with a 35-19 lead over Saskatchewan.
Jenna Sharpe led the Pandas at the half with 13 points, followed by Claire Signatovich with eight points and four defensive rebounds. Saskatchewan's Tea DeMong led with five points.
The Alberta Pandas came out of halftime determined to keep their lead. Their defence remained dialed in on Saskatchewan's Carly Ahlstrom, who was kept to just three points through the third quarter. Logan Reider's shot clock buzzer beater for three points mid-way through the fourth quarter seemed to be a turning point for the Huskies. The Pandas defense was too strong for a struggling Huskies offense, and Alberta would go on to upset Saskatchewan.
Gage Grassick led for the Huskies with 14 points and nine rebounds, followed closely by Tea DeMong with 12 points and six rebounds. Carly Ahlstrom led with 12 rebounds.
For the Pandas it was Jenna Harpe leading the way with 22 points. Emma Kary had 15 points and eight rebounds.
"It's so tough," Saskatchewan Head Coach Lisa Thomaidis. "For all our starters to go cold on the same night. We have a lot of depth and a lot of weapons and unfortunately there were some shots that we normally make that just didn't go in. I thought we did a better job in the second half but we had dug ourselves such a big hole in the first that it was hard to overcome."
The Canada West Final is set for Friday, March 3 between the Alberta Pandas and the Calgary Dinos. Game can be streamed live on CanadaWest.TV.
Fans were treated to an incredible afternoon of basketball, as the Alberta Pandas upset the top ranked Saskatchewan Huskies by a score of 69-57.
"It's an amazing feeling anytime you get to take a team to the national championship," said Alberta Head Coach Scott Edwards. "It's a special group of athletes and I'm really proud of them and really happy for them."
Saskatchewan's starters for the semi-final were Logan Reider,Carly Ahlstrom, Tea DeMong, Gage Grassick, and Kyla Shand. Alberta would go with Shae McCusker, Jenna Harpe, Emma Kary, Morgan Harris, and Claire Signatovich as their starting five.
The Pandas dominated the first half of play in Saskatoon, with an impressive offence and a defence that kept the Huskies to just five points in the second quarter. Saskatchewan would have three-point troubles in the first half, going 1 for 16 (6%), while Alberta was a bit more conservative with their shots, going 2 for 8 (25%). Alberta would head to the locker room with a 35-19 lead over Saskatchewan.
Jenna Sharpe led the Pandas at the half with 13 points, followed by Claire Signatovich with eight points and four defensive rebounds. Saskatchewan's Tea DeMong led with five points.
The Alberta Pandas came out of halftime determined to keep their lead. Their defence remained dialed in on Saskatchewan's Carly Ahlstrom, who was kept to just three points through the third quarter. Logan Reider's shot clock buzzer beater for three points mid-way through the fourth quarter seemed to be a turning point for the Huskies. The Pandas defense was too strong for a struggling Huskies offense, and Alberta would go on to upset Saskatchewan.
Gage Grassick led for the Huskies with 14 points and nine rebounds, followed closely by Tea DeMong with 12 points and six rebounds. Carly Ahlstrom led with 12 rebounds.
For the Pandas it was Jenna Harpe leading the way with 22 points. Emma Kary had 15 points and eight rebounds.
"It's so tough," Saskatchewan Head Coach Lisa Thomaidis. "For all our starters to go cold on the same night. We have a lot of depth and a lot of weapons and unfortunately there were some shots that we normally make that just didn't go in. I thought we did a better job in the second half but we had dug ourselves such a big hole in the first that it was hard to overcome."
The Canada West Final is set for Friday, March 3 between the Alberta Pandas and the Calgary Dinos. Game can be streamed live on CanadaWest.TV.