The No. 3-seeded Calgary Dinos are off to the semifinals of the U SPORTS Women’s Basketball Final 8 after defeating the No. 6 McGill Martlets 58–45 on Thursday. Calgary will face the No. 2-seeded UNB Reds on Saturday for a berth in the national championship game.
The first quarter set the tone for the game as the Canada West champion Dinos and RSEQ champion Martlets settled into a defensive battle.
Calgary built an 11–3 lead heading into the final minute of the quarter, but McGill responded with a 6–0 run to cut the deficit to just two points entering the second frame.
The second quarter played out much the same, with both squads trading baskets. The half concluded with the Dinos holding a narrow 29–27 lead.
Intermission served as a checkpoint for both teams as they looked to outmaneuver each other’s defence. The Dinos’ nationally ranked three-point shooting was held to zero in the first half, while the Martlets struggled at the free-throw line with opportunities that could have given them the edge.
The tide began to shift in the third quarter as Calgary started to create separation, though McGill stayed within striking distance. The frame ended with the Dinos leading 41–38.
Calgary pulled away in the fourth quarter, scoring 17 points while limiting the Martlets to just seven.
Second-year forward Emilia Diaz-Ruiz was named McGill’s player of the game with a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds. Fourth-year guard Kourtney Oss earned the honour for Calgary after recording a double-double of 18 points and 17 rebounds.
Calgary advances to face the AUS champion UNB Reds in the semifinal after UNB defeated the Carleton Ravens 81–63.