REBEKAH LESKO

The women’s basketball team finished the first half of the season in the best way possible.

The Huskies women’s basketball team is a force to be reckoned with and has secured the top spot in Canada West.

The team earned two wins over the University of Manitoba Bisons on Nov. 29 and 30 at the University of Saskatchewan’s Physical Activity Complex. With the wins, alongside victories in their last five games, the Huskies improve to a 9–1 record .

On Friday night the Huskies outscored the visiting Bisons in a five-minute overtime period to win 87-76.

The Bisons tried to steal the momentum during the first two minutes of the opening frame with an 11-3 lead, but the Huskies quickly replied with a 15-2 run to hold a 21-18 lead after ten minutes.

The Huskies led for most of the second quarter but the Bisons remained close behind and the teams headed into the break with the Huskies up by one and a score of 36-35.

Starting off the second half, the Dogs’ offence outscored the Bisons 18-10, ending the third quarter with a 54-45 lead. However, during the final quarter, the Bisons crept up on the Dogs and forced the game into overtime as they managed to tie the score at 70-70.

Heading into the extra frame, it was evident the Huskies wanted the win by outscoring the Bisons 17-6 to secure the game. Huskie Kiera Lyons banked 10 of the 17 points scored in overtime.

The Dogs shot 51 per cent from the field and 40 per cent from beyond the arc, while Manitoba shot 44 per cent and hit 33 per cent of three-point shots.

Banking 32 points, Dalyce Emmerson was the top scorer for the Huskies. The Canada West blocks leader added four more to her season total while snagging nine rebounds. Lyons racked up 21 points while Kabree Howard contributed five assists.

The Huskies brought an even more impressive game to the court on Saturday by defeating the visiting Bisons 68-58 to secure their second win of the weekend.

Saskatchewan led 8-2 in the opening minutes on Saturday night, but that’s as great a lead the Bisons would allow in the first frame. Finishing off the first quarter Manitoba closed the gap ­— trailing only by one with a score of 22-21.

The Huskies ended the second quarter by taking a slight lead of 39-33 heading into halftime. Midway through the third quarter, the Huskies would secure an eight point lead and maintained the momentum into the fourth for a 54-46 advantage.

However, the Bisons managed to reduce the lead to only four points early in the fourth. With three minutes remaining, the Huskies continued to cling to its lead as Manitoba tried to force overtime for a second straight night. Emmerson’s three-point play would be enough to seal the win for the Huskies with a score of 68-58.

The Huskies ended the game shooting 45 per cent from the field and 33 per cent from outside the arc, while the Bisons shot 37 per cent and matched the Huskies in arc shooting.

For the second night in a row top scorer for the Dogs went to Emmerson, who shot 8-for-10 from the field. She also picked up a double-double, netting 23 points and grabbing 16 rebounds off the boards.

Desarae Hogberg and Kelsey Trulsrud scored nine points each to bank the victory. Jordyn Halvorson ripped seven rebounds to go along with three points.

The Huskies travel west to Victoria to take on the University of Victoria Vikes on Jan. 10.

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Photo: Katherine Fedoroff