Sask fails in bid to repeat as USports champions

There will be a new USports women’s basketball champion in 2022. The defending Bronze Baby winners, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, were defeated by the Queen’s Golden Gaels 62-55 in the quarterfinals of the USports Final 8 on Thursday night in Kingston, Ontario.

The 7^th seeded Gaels didn’t take their first lead of the game until the 4:03 mark of the second quarter when Julia Chadwick hit a big three point shot to give Queen’s a 16-14 lead. The fourth year forward from Ottawa led Queen’s in scoring with 18 points. It was part of a big 27 point quarter for Queens, as the Gaels led 36-25 at the break.

The 2^nd seeded Huskies went on an impressive 10 point run in the third quarter. The team’s leading scorer, Carly Ahlstrom, made good on a jump shot with 1:49 left to help Saskatchewan take a 44-43 lead. Ahlstrom, a third year guard from Calgary, finished with 29 points for the Huskies. (52% of Saskatchewan’s points on the evening.)

Saskatchewan had a sluggish start to the fourth quarter, not hitting their first goal until Gage Grassick nailed a jumper with 4:30 left to go. Queens still enjoyed a five point lead late in the ball game. With the score tied at 55 in the final minute, the Gaels capped off the game with a 7 point run. Emma Weltz had an impressive 16 point game for the Golden Gaels, while Laura Donovan was credited with 10.