The University of Saskatchewan Huskies women's basketball team returned from the holiday break in dominant fashion, preserving their flawless record with a pair of hard-fought victories over a top rival.
Dramatic Finish Seals Weekend Sweep
In a nail-biting conclusion on Saturday night, Ella Murphy Wiebe drove to the basket and scored a crucial layup with just eight seconds remaining. Her clutch play gave the visiting Huskies a 69-67 lead over the University of Alberta Pandas. The host Pandas had a chance to win it but missed a final three-point attempt, allowing Saskatchewan to secure the rebound and the victory.
This win capped off a perfect weekend for the Huskies, who had also defeated the Pandas 59-54 the previous night, Friday, January 8th. Maya Flindall led the scoring in the first game with 11 points, while Gage Grassick topped the team with 17 points in the second contest.
Undefeated Streak and Standings Implications
With these two wins, the Huskies solidified their position as the team to beat in Canada West. Their record now stands at a perfect 12-0 for the season. The weekend series was a clash of titans, as both Saskatchewan and Alberta entered the games with identical 10-0 records. They were part of a four-way tie for first in the Canada West Prairie division, alongside the Regina Cougars and Calgary Dinos. Regina also swept their series against Calgary over the weekend.
The Huskies' men's basketball team also resumed play after the break, splitting their two-game series with the Alberta Golden Bears. On Saturday, Easton Thimm delivered a powerhouse performance with 19 points and 17 rebounds, leading Saskatchewan to a 71-57 win. This victory avenged a tough 89-60 loss from Friday night, where Thimm still managed a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds. The men's team now holds a 3-9 record.
Huskies Hockey Teams See Mixed Results
On the ice, the U of S men's hockey team extended their winning streak to four games with a pair of narrow victories over the University of Manitoba Bisons. On Friday, Liam Keeler scored the overtime winner at 1:53 of the extra period to complete a comeback from a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 win. Saturday saw another third-period rally, with the Huskies scoring three goals in five minutes—from Dawson Holt, Logan Bairos, and Connor Roulette—to erase a 4-2 deficit and win 5-4. Their record improves to 13-4-1, good for third place in the Canada West East Division.
The Huskies women's hockey team faced a tougher weekend, dropping both games to the visiting Manitoba Bisons. They were shut out 4-0 on Friday and lost again on Saturday. Their record now stands at 7-8-1-2, though they maintain third place in their division standings.
