It is a busy weekend in U Sports with four conference championship games set to go.
Canada- West starts off the weekend with its championship game on Friday night, as provincial rivals Regina Cougars will play Saskatchewan Huskies for the fourth straight season. This is Huskies sixth straight CW championship appearance. The Cougars are looking to win back- back CW championships.
Saturday afternoon will see RSEQ and OUA championship games go. Laval Rouge et Or will be hosting the Concordia Stingers in RSEQ championship game. The Rouge et Or have made the RSEQ championship game for the second- straight season while this is Stingers second- time in three years.
The OUA championship game will see McMaster Marauders heading to national capital to play Ottawa Gee- Gees. The Marauders have made it to OUA championship game in consecutive seasons. The AUS championship game is set for Sunday, the AUS women’s basketball tournament only begins on Friday.
CW Championship Game: Regina Cougars vs. Saskatchewan Huskies.
The Huskies and Cougars meet again in the CW championship game for fourth- straight season. The Huskies advance to championship game by sweeping Lethbridge Pronghorns while Cougars swept the Dinos in semi-finals for the second- straight year. The Huskies are hoping to win their third CW title in four years while the Cougars are defending champions are looking to repeat. The two teams met in final weekend of the CW regular season where Cougars swept Huskies.
Offense–
The Huskies averaged 81.3 points per a game,1,627 during the regular season. They were ranked first in offense. The Cougars were ranked second in CW in points per a game averaging 79.7 points a game, 1,593 points.
Defense–
Huskies were first in CW in holding its opponents to points per a game. Opposing teams averaged 55.7 points a game. They also were first in field- goal percentage as opposing teams shot 33.8 %. Saskatchewan lastly averaged 17.6 turnovers per a game. Cougars held opposition to 57.1 points per a game which was second in CW. Opposing teams shot 30.7 % against them which was first. They averaged 14.4 turnovers per a game.
Key players-
The Huskies have ridden their one-time two punch of Sabine Dukate and Summer Masikewich all the way to CW Championship game. Fourth- year guard, Sabine Dukate was named CW player of the year on Thursday after averaging 15.6 points/ per a game, 312 points in regular season. Third- year forward, Summer Masikewich averaged 13.4 points/ per a game,268 points in regular season. She was named CW defensive player of the year in CW after she had 96 defensive rebounds. She also had 19 blocks. The Cougars are led by third-year first team all- conference guard, Kyanna Giles. Giles averaged 18.4 points per a game,349 points and also had 169 rebounds.
Prediction– Saskatchewan
RSEQ Championship Game : Laval Rouge et Or vs. Concordia Stingers.
It is a new era in Quebec as the McGill Martlets are not defending their title for first time in seven- years. Both Concordia and Laval had thrillers in their semi- finals as Laval beat UQAM Citadins and Concordia beat it’s rival, McGill Martlets.
Laval is making their second- straight appearance in RSEQ title game. Stingers head into championship game for the second time in three years. Laval has not won RSEQ title since 2010-2011 season which was their last of seven- straight titles. The Stingers have not won Quebec since 1998-1999. In regular season, Rouge et Or swept the series winning all four games.
Offense-
Rouge et Or are averaging 74.2 points per a game, 1,1874 points which was first in conference. The Stingers average 65.6 points/ game ,1,050 points.
Defense–
Rouge et Or were first in holding opposition to points per a game with 53.8. Lastly, they averaged 16.4 turnovers per a game. The Stingers held opponents to 60.4 points per game. They were first in turnovers averaging 12.3 turnovers a game.
Key Players–
Rouge et Or are lead by fifth year and RSEQ MVP, Sarah- Jane Marois . Sarah averaged 13.0 points a game,208 points. She also had 57 assists. On the other side, Stingers are led by their rookie guard, Myriam Leclerc. She won RSEQ rookie of the year making her third straight Stinger to do so. She averaged 18.8 points per a game,301 points. She also had 82 rebounds in her rookie campaign.
Prediction- Laval.
OUA Championship Game: McMaster Marauders vs. Ottawa Gee- Gees
McMaster is in their second- straight OUA title game looking to win their first championship since 2007-2008 season. The Gee- Gees have not won OUA championship game since 2011-2012. Ottawa made it to the championship game by beating Lakehead in its semi- final while McMaster beat the defending national and OUA champions, Carleton Ravens in theirs.
The two teams met on November 23 where Ottawa was victorious 74-60.
Offense–
This is the battle of two high scoring teams in OUA go head-to head; Mac averaged 79.3 points per a game which was first in conference. The Gee-Gees averaged 77.4 points per a game.
Defense–
Mac held its opponents to 59.0 points/ per a game which was fourth in conference. Mac’s opponents shot only 33.3% on them which was second in conference. Lastly, they force 14.3 turnovers per a game. Ottawa opposition average 56.1 points/ per a game which was second in OUA. Opposing teams struggle shooting against Ottawa as they shot 56.1% which was first in conference. Lastly, they force 15.2 turnovers a game, fifth in OUA.
Key players-
Second- year guard , Sarah Gates led Mac in scoring this season averaging 17.1 points a game,377 points. She also had 106 rebounds. Second- year forward, Brigitte Lefebvre- Okankwu led Ottawa scoring this season. She was a OUA all- star after averaging 14.0 points per a game, 323 points. She also had 141 rebounds.
Prediction– Ottawa.
I hope you all enjoy the championship games. It should be exciting weekend of great games.
