CALGARY – The Regina Cougars used a strong second quarter to defeat the Calgary Dinos 72-61 Saturday night at the Jack Simpson Gym in Calgary.
BOX SCORE
Holding a three-point lead after the opening frame, the Cougars held the high-powered Dinos offence to just nine points in the quarter while scoring 19, taking a 39-26 lead into the half. While Calgary would make a game of it late, the Cougars never relinquished their lead and head back to Regina with a two-game sweep of southern Alberta opponents after defeating Lethbridge Friday night. The Cougars improve to 3-1 on the season, while Calgary falls to 4-2.
The Dinos struggled mightily to find their offensive touch, managing just a 27 per cent shooting average on the night – including a paltry 23.3 per cent in the first half, where the Dinos made good on just seven of 30 field goal tries.
The first quarter opened with not much separating the two teams, and several lead changes resulted. Regina took the lead for good in the final minute of the first quarter on a layup by Chelsea Cassano.
The visitors went on an 11-0 run to open the second quarter, jumping out to a 29-17 lead in the first three and a half minutes to put the Dinos behind the eight-ball. The Cougars were able to maintain a sizable cushion until late in the game when Courtney Coyle converted a conventional three-point play with 90 seconds left to bring Calgary within five. That's as close as they would get, however, as Regina ended on an 8-2 run to take the 72-61 win.
Four Cougars found double digits in points, led by Stacey Walker's 15. Cassano and Jessica Lynch each scored 13, while Gabrielle Gheyssen added an even dozen for the Cougars. Cassano scored the double-double, adding 10 rebounds to her baker's dozen points.
Coyle matched Walker's game-high 15 points, with Megan Lang (12) and Ashley Hill (11) also scoring in the double digits. But it was a lack of scoring off the bench – just 13 points total – that plagued the Dinos on this night.
Regina returns home for its next action, hosting Victoria and UBC next weekend at the CKHS. The Dinos also see their next action at home, hosting division rival Lethbridge next Friday and Saturday nights in the Jack Simpson Gym.
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