ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – The University of Alberta Pandas clamped down defensively and got an incredible performance from two time Canada West Defensive Player of the Year Claire Signatovich with a 50-43 upset win over the shorthanded University of Calgary Dinos in Thursday's Canada West Quarterfinal matchup.

The loss puts the semifinals just out of reach of the Dinos, as their tournament run comes to an end. Meanwhile, the Pandas will go on to face the winner of Thursday's quarterfinal matchup between the UBC Thunderbirds and the University of Victoria Vikes.

Mya Proctor picked up five points early as the Dinos threatened to pull away in the opening quarter, but Alberta's Jenna Harpe answered back with a triple and five points of her own to keep it a two-point game. 

Signatovich found her fourth block of the game in the midst of a 10-0 run for Alberta to start the second quarter that forced a timeout from Calgary bench boss Damian Jennings with 5:14 left in the half.

After the game Jennings noted that stretch came down to missed shots.

"I think we just misfired on a lot of shots. The rebound for them off our miss created some easier ones, and it just got a bit away from us."

Offence dried up for both teams for the remainder of the frame with the teams combining for just one basket each, until Harpe dropped it in to beat the buzzer and send the Pandas into the break with a nine-point lead.

Alberta pushed the lead to 13 in the third after back-to-back buckets by Morgan Harris, but triples from Proctor and Myriam Kone kept the Dinos within 10 heading into the fourth.

Amélie Collin hit a triple to bring the Dinos within seven with 1:30 left on the clock. However, a Signatovich block late sealed the game, and sends Alberta into the semis.

Alberta head coach Scott Edwards had praise for Signatovich after the game.

"I thought that Claire had a wonderful game defensively, and she definitely showed she was worthy of that defensive player of the year."

Calgary's Proctor led all scorers with 17 points, while adding six rebounds and four assists. Kone chipped in nine points and five assists in the effort. 

The shorthanded Dinos had their worst shooting performance of the season, connecting on just 18-67 (26.9%) for the game. Calgary also went 0-3 from the line – marking the first game in nearly two seasons the Dinos didn't connect on at least one free throw.

Despite the disappointing result, Jennings noted there were plenty of positives to take away from the season for Calgary.

"I have a middle-aged to young group, and I'm proud of what we did – being in the top-five in the country for most of the year, and coming out with a 16-4 record and no graduates, so there are some really good things."

Signatovich finished one point short of a double-double for Alberta with 15 rebounds and nine points, while also tallying five blocks and three steals. Jenna Harpe finished the game with 13 points, and Harris had 11.

-UC-