Semi-final: 2016 ArcelorMittal Dofasco CIS women's basketball championship

March 19, 2016

By Mike Gange for CIS

FREDERICTON (CIS) – The University of Saskatchewan Huskies built up a seven-point lead after the first, a 13-point lead at the half, and then hung on to stop a surging Saint Mary's Huskies late-game threat, en route to a 65-58 victory in the first semi-final game of the 2016 ArcelorMittal-Dofasco CIS Women's Basketball Championship.

CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wbkb/index

Laura Dally, Canada West conference player of the year, scored 24 points to lead the western Huskies, who will now meet the winner of the second semi-final game between McGill and Ryerson. Dalyce Emmerson scored 17 points and had 18 rebounds in the winning effort and was named player of the game for the western Huskies.

Emmerson was thrilled to be in the national women's basketball final. "I have played in two other semis, and we didn't get to the finals, so this is really nice. We still have some business to take care of, but right now, I am so, so happy.

Emmerson was in a physical battle at both ends of the court. "I took a lot of pressure, for sure, but if they have to work to control me, then it leaves someone else open, and they can take their shots. It was a physical game today, not unlike what we see in the Canada West, so we were used to it, and ready for it."

Saskatchewan was up by 17 at one point in the third quarter, but Saint Mary's battled back to within one point at several times in the fourth quarter. Saskatchewan coach Lisa Thomaidis had high praise for the other Huskies. "They did some things differently in the second half, scored in transition and had too many good scorers to be taken lightly. We are happy to escape with the win. And it was an escape. They made a run, and we had to find ways to get those mismatches."

Part of the mismatch was the size and strength of 6 foot 3 Dalyce Emmerson, said Thomaidis. "Emmerson is a once in a career kind of player. She pushes through a lot of pain, just grinds it out."

Saint Mary's Laura Langille, a graduating senior, was clearly emotional after the loss. "It was a tough game," she said through tears. "They used their size and speed, and we knew they would but it is not something we are used to here in Atlantic University Sport league action. They have that front 5, all big."

"I'm proud of our team, we never quit. We trailed by 17 and came back to within 1, but we didn't have enough time on our side."

Langille said she will be ready for the bronze medal game, but really wanted to play for gold.   Saint Mary's was led by Rachelle Coward who had 19 points. The eastern Huskies player of the game was Katrina Murrell, who had nine rebounds and eight points.

STAT LEADERS

Offical Boxscore: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wbkb/2016/boxscores_champ/20160319_a5k1.xml 

SASK 20-16-14-15  65

SMU 13-10-14-15  58

Saskatchewan

Points: Laura Dally (24), Dalyce Emmerson (17), Kelsey Trulsrud (11)   

Rebounds: Dalyce Emmerson (18), Kelsey Trulsrud (13).

Assists: Desarae Hogberg (4), Sabine Dukate (4)

Player of the game: Dalyce Emmerson

Saint Mary's

Points: Rachelle Coward (19), Angelina Carvery (10),

Rebounds: Katrina Murell (9), Shanieka Wood (9)

Assists: Angelina Carvery (3)

Player of the game: Katrina Murell

SCHEDULE & RESULTS (all times ATLANTIC)

Thursday, March 17

13:00 Quarter-final 1: No. 7 Ottawa  62 vs. No. 2 Saskatchewan  73

15:00 Quarter-final 2: No. 6 Alberta  52 vs. No. 3 Saint Mary's  53 

18:00 Quarter-final 3: No. 8 UNB 52 vs. No. 1 McGill  58

20:00 Quarter-final 4: No. 5 Ryerson 73 vs. No. 4 Regina 70 

Friday, March 18

18:00 Consolation 1: Ottawa 60 vs. Alberta 69 

20:00 Consolation 2: UNB  56 vs. Regina 68 

Saturday, March 19

12:00 Semifinal 1: Saskatchewan 65 vs. Saint Mary's 58

14:30 Semifinal 2: McGill vs. Ryerson (Sportsnet ONE / www.CIS-SIC.tv) * 

17:00 5th-place game (www.CIS-SIC.tv) 

Sunday, March 20

10:00 Bronze (www.CIS-SIC.tv)  

13:00 Final (Sportsnet 360 / www.CIS-SIC.tv) *