Queen's Gaels, Carleton Ravens to battle for women's basketball national title
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Laura Donovan scored a game-high 21 points to lead the third-seeded Queen's Gaels to a 72-62 win over the second-seeded Alberta Pandas in the first semifinal of the 2023 U Sports women's Final 8 on Saturday in Sydney, N.S.
Donovan made six of 10 three-pointers en route to leading the Gaels to the championship game.
And in the second semifinal, Kali Pocrnic scored a game-high 17 points to lead the top-seeded Carleton Ravens to a 65-46 win over the No. 4-ranked Saint Mary's Huskies.
Pocrnic shot six-for-15 from the field and played a game-high 35 minutes while leading the Ravens to the championship final.
The Pandas came out strong early, drawing first blood and not looking back. They jumped out to an 11-2 lead, but a timeout and reset for Queen's composed the Gaels and turned the game around.
Queen's tied the game at 13 before Alberta hit a free throw to take a 14-13 lead after the first. The second quarter featured more turnovers, as the two teams combined for 15 in the opening 20 minutes. A 53 per cent shooting performance for the Pandas in the first half gave them a 34-30 lead at the break.
🏀 WBB / SF#1: From downtown! Donovan nails the three pointer 🚨¡<br><br>🏀 BBF / SF#1: Ceeeeentre-viiiiiiille! Donovan inscrit trois 🚨!<a href="https://twitter.com/queensgaels?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@queensgaels</a><a href="https://twitter.com/BearsandPandas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BEARSANDPANDAS</a> <a href="https://t.co/dZ9FGNysTV">pic.twitter.com/dZ9FGNysTV</a>
—@USPORTS_BballThe turnover problem continued through the third quarter as both teams struggled to penetrate. The tide shifted in the Gaels' favour as they clawed back and eventually found their first lead of the game with 3:16 to go. Donovan hit two big three-pointers to extend Queen's lead to six, and the Gaels saw themselves up 51-48 after three quarters.
Donovan was the player of the game for the Gaels, finishing 60 per cent from beyond the arc with 21 points. Bridget Mulholland added a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Julia Chadwick added a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double.
Emma Kary earned player of the game honours for Alberta, finishing with 15 points and four rebounds. Jenna Harpe also had 15 points, adding five assists, while Claire Signatovich pitched in 15 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.
WATCH | Gaels beat Pandas in semifinals:
Much like the first semifinal, the Ravens and Huskies exchanged turnovers in the opening quarter. Both sides struggled to get in rhythm, resulting in a 13-13 deadlock after the opening frame.
SMU's Clara Gascoigne went down around the eight-minute mark and did not return, making it difficult on the Huskies the rest of the way. Pocrnic had eight points in the second, and the Ravens extended their lead to as much as 10 before ultimately taking a 36-26 lead at halftime.
🏀 WBB / SF #2: Great play by the Ravens! <a href="https://twitter.com/CURavens?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CURavens</a> <br><br>🏀 BBF / SF #2: Un bon jeu par Ravens! <a href="https://twitter.com/CURavens?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CURavens</a> <a href="https://t.co/146jBY4v7i">pic.twitter.com/146jBY4v7i</a>
—@USPORTS_BballCarleton came out swinging in the third and kept the Huskies at bay throughout the quarter. The Ravens, with strong defence and a 17 point lead, had the Huskies in complete control. With their eyes on the championship final, the top seed went into the final 10 minutes up 53-36. Carleton held the Huskies to 13 or less in every quarter of the game and closed it out with the win.
Sophia Widmeyer earned the player of the game honours for Saint Mary's, scoring 16 points and eight rebounds for the Huskies. Courtney Donaldson and Sarah Forgie each had six points off the bench in the loss.
Saint Mary's will play for bronze against the Alberta Pandas on Sunday afternoon.
