In a gritty, physical first-round matchup at War Memorial Gym, the reigning women’s basketball Canada West champion University of Saskatchewan Huskies outlasted the eighth-seed University of Alberta Pandas, using a blazing hot start to eventually secure the 68–57 win.
Yet, despite the eventual close score, in the opening minutes of the game, the Huskies looked like they were about to run the Pandas out of the building. They opened on a tear, with an 11–0 run to begin the game giving them a cushion they relied on for the rest of the contest.
Téa DeMong led the Huskies offensively, sustaining a physical style of play all game and scoring 4 of those first 11 points, eventually leading her team in scoring.
The Pandas didn’t manage to score their first basket until nearly five minutes into the game. With Saskatchewan’s defence being able to grab nearly every missed Alberta shot from off the glass — holding them to only one offensive rebound all quarter — the Pandas’ offence didn’t stand much of a chance. Saskatchewan head coach Lisa Thomaidis emphasized the importance of her team’s defence to their fast start.
“We were able to get stops that allowed us to get out in transition,” she said. “I think when they started scoring a little bit more … then they’re able to set their defence, and that was a problem for us.”
While the Pandas went into the second quarter down 20–6, they kept their composure despite the deficit. Down 28–13 midway through the quarter, Alberta turned up the pressure with a 10–0 run, nailing two key three-pointers to put Saskatchewan on their toes.
With the score brought to within five, the Huskies didn’t blink. They immediately turned around the momentum, outscoring the Pandas 13–5 in the final four minutes of the quarter to go into the locker room up 41–28. Thomaidis commended her team for keeping their composure, despite Alberta’s scoring streak.
“I don’t think anyone gets too high or too low, and they know that our defence can keep us in games,” she said. “There’s lots of confidence from one another.”
After half, both teams settled down into a tighter defensive game, trading blows as Alberta tried to chip away at Saskatchewan’s 13 point lead. While Alberta guard Kiah Easton-Ihediohanma kicked off the second half scoring with a strong drive to the basket for a layup and two free throws — it was only a brief reprieve from the Huskies’ offensive power.
The Huskies strengthened their lead, with a Maya Flindall jump shot bringing the score to 51–32, their largest lead of the game. However, with 15 minutes remaining in the game, the Pandas made one last push, refusing to let the Huskies cruise through the final quarter.
Alberta ended the third on a 8–2 run, and went on another 8–2 run to start the fourth — powered by three-pointer success. Guard Annacy Palmer made four of her five three-point attempts in the quarter, with her final make bringing the Pandas as close as they had been all game, only down five points with less than two minutes left.
Yet, the Huskies, as they had done all game, held on and emerged victorious, 68–57.
Their next challenge will be to take down the UBC Thunderbirds, in a semifinal matchup at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre on Saturday night.
This article is part of our 2025 Final 8 coverage. Follow us at @UbysseySports on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, as well as @theubyssey on TikTok, to follow our U Sports basketball coverage starting March 12.
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