WBB | Alberta upsets Calgary

Abbotsford, BC - The University of Alberta Pandas roared past the University of Calgary Dinos 50-43 in Thursday’s Canada West Quarterfinal matchup. 

The loss puts the semifinals just out of reach of the Dinos, as their season comes to an end. Meanwhile, the Pandas will go on to face the winner of Thursday’s quarterfinal matchup between the UBC Thunderbirds and the University of Victoria Vikes.

Mya Proctor picked up five points early as the Dinos threatened to pull away in the opening quarter, but Alberta’s Jenna Harpe answered back with a triple and five points of her own to keep it a two-point game. 

Canada West Defensive Player of the Year Claire Signatovich found her fourth block of the game in the midst of a 10-0 run for Alberta to start the second quarter that forced a timeout from Calgary bench boss Damian Jennings with 5:14 left in the half.

After the game Jennings noted that stretch came down to missed shots.

“I think we just misfired on a lot of shots. The rebound for them off our miss created some easier ones, and it just got a bit away from us.”

Offence dried up for both teams for the remainder of the frame with the teams combining for just one basket each, until Harpe dropped it in to beat the buzzer and send the Pandas into the break with a nine-point lead.

Alberta pushed the lead to 13 in the third after back-to-back buckets by Morgan Harris, but triples from Proctor and Myriam Kone kept the Dinos within 10 heading into the fourth.

Amélie Collin hit a triple to bring the Dinos within seven with 1:30 left on the clock. However, a Signatovich block late sealed the game, and sends Alberta into the semis.

Alberta head coach Scott Edwards had praise for Signatovich after the game.

“I thought that Claire had a wonderful game defensively, and she definitely showed she was worthy of that defensive player of the year.”

The Pandas now get a break before their semi-final game at 1pm PT on Saturday.

“I’m just glad we get a day off now to be honest. We have a lot of tired kids after two tough games, and it’s been a wonderful tournament so far, so I look forward to seeing this next game and how it ends up.”

Calgary’s Proctor led all scorers with 17 points, while adding six rebounds and four assists. Kone chipped in nine points and five assists in the effort. 

Despite the disappointing result, Jennings noted there were plenty of positives to take away from the season for Calgary.

“I have a middle-aged to young group, and I’m proud of what we did – being in the top-five in the country for most of the year, and coming out with a 16-4 record and no graduates, so there are some really good things.”

Signatovich finished one point short of a double-double for Alberta with 15 rebounds and nine points, while also tallying five blocks and three steals. Jenna Harpe finished the game with 13 points, and Harris had 11.