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What’s turn into a historic season for College of Alberta Pandas basketball isn’t over but.
After capturing their first Canada West banner in program historical past on the weekend, the squad departed Monday for Sydney, N.S., the place they’ll comply with up by taking a run at a nationwide championship because the second seed within the U Sports activities Ultimate 8 match starting Thursday.
A Pandas crew that upset the top-ranked College of Saskatchewan Huskies on the street one week earlier, got here up with a 76-65 win over the College of Calgary Dinos at Jack Simpson Health club on Saturday for his or her first style of convention gold.
“This implies every little thing to this crew,” Pandas head coach Scott Edwards mentioned. “I’m simply so happy with their progress this season and the best way they’ve come collectively this second time period and the way properly we’ve performed down the top.
“I get emotional excited about all the opposite Panda groups we’ve had over the a long time which have busted their butts and didn’t get an opportunity to win this. So, this one is for them, as properly.”
Jenna Harpe led the best way with a game-high 20 factors within the closing, following up a season-best 22 factors towards the Huskies. Fifth-year guard Emma Kary earned 13 extra and Canada West Defensive Participant of the 12 months Claire Signatovich chipped in with seven factors and 20 rebounds.
The Pandas have been 50 per cent from past the arc, whereas Calgary made 23 per cent of their three-point makes an attempt, because the Pandas took management halfway by the third quarter, placing collectively a 10-0 hole over 4 minutes to take a 52-41 lead early within the closing body.
Defensively, the Pandas held Calgary to 30.9 per cent of their photographs from the sphere (21 of 68).
Each Alberta and Calgary certified for the Ultimate 8, with the No. 2 Pandas going through the No. 7 Acadia College Axewomen within the quarter-finals on Thursday (11 a.m.). Acadia, who gained the Atlantic College Sport Convention regular-season pennant after going 16-3, solely to be upset within the league closing by the St. Mary’s College Huskies.
The Huskies are the No. 4 seed at nationals, and can open towards the No. 5 seed Dinos on Thursday (2:30 p.m.).
The Carleton College Ravens claimed the highest seed with a 70-57-win over the No. 3 Queen’s College Gaels on Saturday. The one different time the Ravens have been No. 1 within the Ultimate 8 was in 2018, on their option to their solely earlier nationwide championship.
The ultimate is scheduled for Sunday (3 p.m.).
U SPORTS WOMEN’S FINAL 8 SEEDING
1. Carleton Ravens (OUA champions: 19-3 common season, 3-0 playoffs)
2. Alberta Pandas (CW champions: 15-5, 3-0)
3. Queen’s Gaels (OUA finalists: 21-1, 2-1)
4. Saint Mary’s Huskies (AUS champions: 15-5, 2-0)
5. Calgary Dinos (CW finalists: 13-7, 2-1)
6. UQAM Citadins (RSEQ champions: 9-7, 2-0)
7. Acadia Axewomen (at massive berth: 16-3, 1-1)
8. Cape Breton Capers (hosts: September 11, 0-1)
BEARS HOCKEY
The College of Alberta Golden Bears fell wanting Canada West gold on the weekend, however their season is much from over.
After falling a objective quick of their three-game sequence towards the Dinos at Father David Bauer Area on the weekend, the Bears will look to regroup forward of the U Sports activities championship match in Charlottetown, P.E.I., starting March 16.
The Bears fell 2-1 to the Dinos in Sport 3 on Sunday, because the Dinos captured their first convention title since 1996.
A one-timer by Ryan Hughes on a go from Nolan Volcan put the Bears forward 16 minutes in
“I believed our guys performed rather well,” mentioned Bears head coach Ian Herbers. “They’re a troublesome crew to play towards. They play a really defensive sport and don’t surrender very a lot, however a key factor was getting the primary objective, which we did, however we simply didn’t get the second objective, which it’s good to get in a sport like this.”
Calgary tied it up within the second on a rebound by Tyson Higher, earlier than Josh Maser put it away within the closing minutes of the third.
Carl Tetachuk made 18 saves within the win, whereas Ethan Kruger earned 21 saves for the Bears.
“We had a powerful weekend, so I’m more than happy with the trouble and perspective in our dressing room,” Herbers mentioned. “The third interval (Saturday) night time and tonight is an efficient studying second and a part of our course of. We’re nonetheless getting higher and we haven’t even hit our peak but going into nationals and we are going to simply maintain taking part in our sport.”
BEARS VOLLEYBALL
For the third time in a row, Bears volleyball will face Trinity Western College within the Canada West closing.
A straight-set victory over the College of Saskatchewan Huskies (25-19, 25-12, 25-21) in Sport 2 Saturday on the Saville Group Sports activities Centre noticed the Bears sweep their best-of-three semi-final, because the No. 1-ranked crew within the nation and defending nationwide champions look so as to add the one banner that’s confirmed elusive recently.
And so they hope the third time’s the appeal once they face a Spartans squad that beat them within the earlier two convention finals.
“We’re trying ahead to a different traditional Canada West matchup with us and Trinity,” Bears coach Brock Davidiuk mentioned following Saturday’s win. “It has been the final three Canada West finals and I hope our guys go into that with a chip on our shoulders, particularly after final yr’s close to miss.”
First-team all-star Jordan Canham had a game-high 15 kills and 6 aces towards the Huskies.
“The fellows got here out to play,” Davidiuk mentioned. “We have been actual rivals, and I’m happy with our composure and our id (Saturday) night time.”
The one-game CanWest closing is scheduled for Friday (7 p.m.) on the Saville Centre.
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