Women’s Basketball News

SYDNEY, N.S. (U SPORTS) - Kali Pocrnic scored a game-high 17 points to lead the first-seed Carleton Ravens to a 65-46 win over the No. 4 Saint Mary’s Huskies in the second semi-final of the 2023 Protocase U SPORTS Women’s Final 8, presented by Bell, at the Sullivan Field House in Sydney on Saturday. Pocrnic shot 6-for-15 from the field and played a game-high 35 minutes while leading the Ravens to the championship final.

Much like the first semi-final, 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.

Carleton 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 a 65-46 win.

Kali Pocrnic took home player of the game for Carleton, scoring 17 points and adding seven dimes in this one. Kyana Jade Poulin had three three-pointers and finished with 11 points and five rebounds, while Dorcas Buisa was effective with nine points and 10 rebounds.

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.

With the win, Carleton inks their spot in Sunday’s championship final, where they will play an OUA championship rematch against the Queen’s Gaels. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. (Atlantic). Saint Mary’s will play for bronze against the Alberta Pandas on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. All games at the championship can be seen on CBC Sports digital platforms (English) and at usports.ca (French).