VANCOUVER — After a crushing Critelli Cup loss to the uOttawa Gee-Gees last week, the Carleton Ravens women’s basketball team is down, but not out.
Weeks before the OUA final, the 22-0 Ravens had all but punched their ticket to the U Sports Final 8 national championship in Vancouver and a chance to defend their back-to-back national titles.
Quarterfinal games tip off on March 13, including the Ravens’ date with the RSEQ champion Bishop’s Gaiters at 7 p.m. EST. All quarterfinals can be viewed for free on CBC Sports’ YouTube channel.
Quarterfinal 1: Laval Rouge et Or vs. uOttawa Gee-Gees — 3 p.m. EST
Quarterfinal 2: Bishop’s Gaiters vs. Carleton Ravens — 4 p.m. EST
Quarterfinal 3: St. Mary’s Huskies vs. UBC Thunderbirds — 9 p.m. EST
Quarterfinal 4: Alberta Pandas vs. Saskatchewan Huskies — 10 p.m. EST
Saskatchewan Huskies (18-2) — Canada West champion
While it’s difficult to bet against Carleton, especially given last year’s result, the Huskies are arguably the favourite of the eight teams in Vancouver after securing their 10th Canada West title. Led by six-time Canada West coach of the year Lisa Thomaidis and Canada West player of the year Gage Grassick, the Huskies’ firepower and experience is nearly unmatched.
Grassick nearly single-handedly toppled the Ravens’ championship hopes last year, and this time Carleton won’t be able to walk out Kali Pocrnic in response. Grassick compiled 31 points, seven assists and four rebounds in this year’s Canada West final against UBC.
uOttawa Gee-Gees (19-3) — OUA champion
In what would be a guaranteed display of fireworks, the Ottawa crosstown rivals are once again on a collision course should each team emerge from their respective quarterfinal games. The Ravens took both of the teams’ regular season meetings, but the Gee-Gees clapped back with the win that mattered most.
No two teams in the tournament are as familiar with one another as these two, and uOttawa head coach Rose-Ann Joly and fifth-year guard Natsuki Szczokin seemed to have finally figured the Ravens out in their Critelli Cup clash.
Carleton Ravens (22-0) — OUA finalist
Possibly the best third-seed team in U Sports memory, the Ravens have pieced together a special season despite the uncertainty of losing the back-to-back nationals MVP in Pocrnic. Led by back-to-back OUA coach of the year Dani Sinclair, Carleton is absolutely loaded from front to back, whether it’s first-team all-star Jacqueline Urban, two-way specialist Kyana-Jade Poulin, Tatyanna Burke, Dorcas Buisa or Teresa Donato.
After suffering their first defeat since the pre-season last week, expect the Ravens to fly out of the gates, with Sinclair bringing her signature enthusiasm to the floor.
Saint Mary’s Huskies (18-2) — AUS champion
The Huskies are looking for a better fate this year, having only come out of last year’s nationals in Edmonton with a consolation win. With a date against the host Thunderbirds this year, the team is primed to do so with an Atlantic University Sport (AUS) three-peat under its belt.
Even after the departure of stars Alaina McMillan and Courtney Donaldson, Saint Mary’s continued to dominate its eastern competition all season long, culminating in a convincing 68-53 win over the UPEI Panthers (who beat Carleton in pre-season action). Although their success is unquestionable, it remains to be seen what kind of damage the Huskies can inflict against much stronger competition across Canada.
UBC Thunderbirds (18-2) — Host
Host teams aren’t always especially qualified to match up with the competition of a national tournament, but the Thunderbirds are different.
Canada West first-team all-star Mona Berlitz and Canada West rookie of the year Keira Daly will lead the Thunderbirds into the opening round against Saint Mary’s for a chance at redemption against Saskatchewan.
Bishop’s Gaiters (11-5) — RSEQ champion
After pulling off a shocking upset over the Laval Rouge et Or to take the RSEQ title, the Gaiters were rewarded with a quarterfinal matchup with the two-time defending national champions. It’s an ideal scenario for the Ravens, but if they learned anything from their quarterfinal matchup with the UFV Cascades last year, it’s that there are no gimmes in the Final 8.
Easily the least experienced team in Vancouver and one of three teams (in addition to uOttawa and UBC) to not qualify for last year’s tournament, the Gaiters are a wild card and thus the sneakiest of dark horse picks for a massive upset.
Laval Rouge et Or (14-2) — RSEQ finalist
If Laval manages to upset uOttawa in the quarterfinals, they’ll hardly be a step down in competition for Carleton. A team that was expected to win its fifth RSEQ title in the past six seasons, Laval was only narrowly ousted in last year’s semifinals by the No. 1 seeded Huskies.
Headed by veterans Léa-Sophie Verret, Florence Fortin and Sabrine Khelifi, the Rouge et Or have a tough draw with the Gee-Gees but nobody would be shocked to see them emerge from the eastern side of the playoff bracket. And a note for Carleton fans: Laval handed Carleton one of its two pre-season defeats in September.
Alberta Pandas (18-2) — Canada West finalist
One year separated from a disappointing host tournament, the Pandas face an uphill battle in Vancouver, pairing against No. 1 Saskatchewan with hopes of a Cinderella story.
Led by three-time Canada West defensive player of the year Claire Signatovich, Alberta is looking to capture its first national title since 2007. A longshot, but never say never.
Featured photo by Owen Spillios-Hunter / The Charlatan.
