by Scott McLean, SFU Sports Information
BURNABY, B.C. - Behind a 32-point performance from Lindsay DeGroot, the No. 3-ranked University of Saskatchewan Huskies advanced to the 2010 CIS national championship for the third year in a row, defeating the No. 6 Alberta Pandas 94-80 to win the bronze medal at the 2010 Canada West championship, hosted by Simon Fraser University.
The Canada West conference is guaranteed three berths to Nationals and Saskatchewan joins SFU and Regina as Canada Wes representatives.
Saskatchewan never trailed over the entire 40 minutes, using a 7-to-2 run in the opening quarter to open up a 25-17 lead after ten minutes. An 8-to-2 run to open the second quarter brought the Pandas within two points (27-25), however Saskatchewan clamped down defensively, leading 38-32 at halftime and 67-60 heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth, the Huskies utilized a 14-4 run over the opening four and a half minutes of the quarter to put the game out of reach, and proceeded to ice the game at the free throw line to close out the night with the 94-80 win.
DeGroot scored 20 of her 32 points in the second half, shooting an incredible 14-for-18 from the floor, and completed a double-double with ten rebounds. Jill Humbert added 21 points, finishing 10-for-13 at the free throw line for the Huskies, who as a team shot 64.5 per cent from the field in the second half.
For the Pandas, Emily Bolduc finished with a team high 20 points, as five Alberta players finished in double figures. Alberta was out rebounded 43-to-33 by Saskatchewan, and shot only 18.2 per cent (2-for-11) in the first half from beyond the three-point arc.
The 2010 CIS women's basketball national championship will be held in Hamilton, Ontario, March 12-14, and are hosted by McMaster University.