REGINA – In a matchup featuring two of the toughest teams to score on in the country, the University of Calgary Dinos fell short to the No. 1-seeded Carleton Ravens in the opening game of the 2018 U SPORTS Women's Basketball Final 8 Championship in Regina, dropping a 52-42 decision at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport on Thursday afternoon.
"We knew they were the No. 1 seed and needed to come out stronger, but we came out a bit flat," explained Dinos fifth-year guard
Hilary Annich. "We won the second half by two points, so it was definitely a game we could have controlled, but we can get prepared and come out with a stronger winning mentality for these next two games."
The Ravens' number one-ranked defence was impressive from the start, holding Calgary to just six points in the opening quarter. The Dinos began to find their rhythm in the second half, but Carleton conceded no easy baskets.
"Our defence was excellent today," Carleton head coach Taffe Charles said following the victory. "Calgary is a very good offensive team and playing against their concepts requires a lot of communication, togetherness and hustle and we definitely showed those things today."
Nicole Gilmore and Heather Lindsay scored in double figures for the Ravens, with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Defensive Player of the Year Elizabeth Leblanc chipped in with a game-high nine rebounds and added three blocked shots.
Carleton was paced by a pair of hot-shooting guards in the first half, as Gilmore knocked down two triples on her way to eight points and Cynthia Dupont came off the bench for a quick eight points.
The Dinos hit a rough patch over the end of the first quarter and start of the second, failing to score for a stretch that spanned over 10 minutes of game time.
Liene Stalidzane sparked the Dino attack in the middle of the second with a pair of buckets, but a Stephanie Carr three pointer and a jumper by Heather Lindsay near the end of the second gave Carleton a 27-15 lead heading into the half.
Stalidzane was the lone Dino scorer to hit double digits with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Erin McIntosh added eight points and eight boards as Calgary moves to the consolation side of the bracket and will play on Friday evening.
"We cannot let our heads hang whatsoever, we came in as the eighth seed, but I think we deserved a little higher. Fifth place is still a good place for us, these next two games are just as important and hopefully we can earn a spot in the consolation final," said Annich.
The Dinos will hit the floor for their Consolation Semi-Final on Friday, March 9 at 4 p.m. MT against the McMaster Marauders, after they lost their quarter-final game to the McGill Martlets, 55-39.
