BOX SCORE
REGINA – They led by as many as 12 points in the first quarter, but turnovers and the play of CIS player of the year Justine Colley ended the University of Calgary Dinos' chances for a medal as they fell 83-73 to the Saint Mary's Huskies Sunday afternoon in the bronze medal game at the CIS women's basketball championship in Regina.
Despite an inspired effort by fifth-year forward
Jessica Franz, playing her last game as a Dino and recording 19 points and an astounding 23 rebounds, the Dinos were unable to control Colley, who picked up 33 points on 11-of-21 shooting from the field to lead the Huskies to their first-ever medal of any colour in CIS women's basketball.
After running away with the opening quarter and taking a 20-13 lead into the first break, the Dinos seemed in a good position heading into the second. However, things deteriorated in the second as Colley and the Huskies started to heat up, and after outscoring the Dinos 22-13 in the second Saint Mary's took a two-point lead into the half.
That set up an electrifying third quarter that featured 10 lead changes and five tie scores before the Huskies started to pull away late on the strength of solid three-point shooting. And though the Dinos were able to cut the deficit to as few as three in the dying moments of the fourth, the lead proved too large to overcome and the game ended in a 10-point margin.
“We had a little second wind in the second half, but the first quarter was particularly strong,” said Dinos head coach
Damian Jennings. “They were really mirror images of each other, the first and second quarters. Two teams that are very similar in that they like to run, and probably couldn't go as deep as they wanted to. And with Kristie (Sheils) out, we could only run five or six which left us a little short in those rotations. It's frustrating that we gave up some of those breakaway points that really ended up making a difference.”
Sheils, who was carried off the floor after suffering a knee injury in the Dinos' semi-final Saturday night against Windsor, made an unexpected appearance on the floor in the second half. In three minutes of play, she attempted one three-point basket.
Led by Franz's 23 rebounds – just three shy of a nearly 40-year-old school record, the best single-game total by a Dino since 1991, and the third best game in University of Calgary history – the Dinos held an impressive 55-33 margin on the glass, and both teams shot better than 40 per cent on the day. But it was turnovers that killed Calgary, with the Huskies capitalizing on 22 Dinos giveaways to score 28 points – with eight of those coming off steals by Colley.
Laura Langille and Lindsay Panchan each scored 14 points for the Huskies, while Naomie Fequiere joined that pair and Colley in double digits with 13.
For Calgary,
Tamara Jarrett led the way offensively with 21 points, adding seven rebounds, while
Ashley Hirons chipped in with 13.
Alex Cole and
Megan Schaufele, the Dinos' other fifth-year seniors along with Franz, recorded nine and eight points, respectively, in their final games as Dinos.
It brings to an end an impressive season for the Dinos women's basketball program, which under new leadership and in a very short time together accomplished a great deal. From a first-place finish in the Canada West Prairie Division at 19-3, hosting rights for the conference final four, their best regular season record since 1991, and a fourth-place finish at the national championship tournament, the Dinos had a season to be proud of.
“I was just saying in the room that I'm particularly proud not only of our seniors but in general the way they've adapted to a new style of basketball in a short time,” said Jennings, who was named Canada West coach of the year in his inaugural season. “And I hope they think they're better basketball players because of it. And although fourth place seems like the worst position, we were able to come in on Friday and make our mark on this national Final 8 and we can be proud of that. I'd much rather have finished fourth than fifth to eighth.”
2013 CIS Women's Basketball Final 8
SCHEDULE/RESULTS (All times MT)
Friday, March 15
1:00 p.m. Quarterfinal 1: #1 Windsor 56 #8 Ottawa 46
3:00 p.m. Quarterfinal 2: #5 Calgary 59 #4 Carleton 51
6:30 p.m. Quarterfinal 3: #3 Regina 68 #6 McGill 53
8:30 p.m. Quarterfinal 4: #2 Saint Mary's 62 #7 Fraser Valley 57
Saturday, March 16
1:00 p.m. Consolation Semi-final 1: #8 Ottawa 52 #4 Carleton 51
3:00 p.m. Consolation Semi-final 2: #6 McGill 60 #7 Fraser Valley 52
5:00 p.m. Semi-final 1: #1 Windsor 82 #5 Calgary 65
7:00 p.m. Semi-final 2: #3 Regina 78 #2 Saint Mary's 49
Sunday, March 17
11:00 a.m. Consolation Final (5th Place): #6 McGill 71 #8 Ottawa 50
1:00 p.m. Bronze Medal Game: #2 Saint Mary's 83 #5 Calgary 73
4:00 p.m. Final: #1 Windsor vs. #3 Regina
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