The Canada West playoff run is over but not the playoffs, as the best is yet to come for the UVic Vikes women’s basketball team.
The Vikes were eliminated 92-65 in Game 3 of the Canada West quarterfinals to the Winnipeg Wesmen in Winnipeg on Saturday. On Friday the Vikes managed to extend the series by winning Game 2 74-69 after dropping the series opener to the Wesmen 82-70 on Thursday.
Winnipeg now advances to the Canada West Final Four.
The Vikes will now have an extended break - longer than planned - before returning to the court as hosts of the U SPORTS national championship, March 9 to 12 at CARSA.
"I think we came up against a team that had their backs against the wall," said Vikes head coach Dani Sinclair. "They've been the top team in our conference this season and they decided they weren't going to lose today.”
Winnipeg exploded for 30 points in the second quarter while holding the Vikes to 12 points in the frame to go into the halftime break leading 49-28.
Nicole Karstein led the Vikes on Saturday with 13 points, Jenna Bugiardini had 12 and Jenna Krug 10. Marissa Dheensaw led the Vikes in rebounding with six.
The Wesmen will play the University of Regina Cougars in the semifinal round next Friday evening at 8:15 p.m. The game can be seen live on Canadawest.tv.
Visit shootscore.ca for tickets and scheduling information about the U Sports national championship.
reporter@saanichnews.com