CALGARY –  The top-seeded University of Saskatchewan Huskies women's basketball team used an 11-0 run early in the third quarter to register a 72-62 win Sunday afternoon in the  Canada West quarter-final from the Jack Simpson Gym.

With the win, the Huskies punch their ticket to the Canada West Final Four — a tournament they will play host to at the PAC beginning on Mar. 18.

"I'm really proud of our players. It wasn't the easiest of wins, that's for sure. We were in it for 40 minutes. We had to execute for 40 and we got the job done," said Huskies head coach Lisa Thomaidis.

"Glad that we did it and now we get to go home and host." 

Carly Ahlstrom — who was named a Canada West All-Star for the first-time in her Huskies career on Thursday — was the difference maker for Saskatchewan. The Calgary product was sensational throughout the afternoon, registering a game-high 24 points to go along with eight boards in a game held in her hometown.

"I just knew we were kind of in a rut and needed to get some scores," said Ahlstrom. "I thought my teammates found me well and we were able to chip away at that deficit."

"It's so special to play in Calgary with my friends and family here. We have so many families here and we're just so grateful. It was a really fun atmosphere. I have no words — we just love the support," said Ahlstrom, when asked post-game about playing in her hometown.

Despite struggling from long-range, the Huskies were able to make things happen offensively. Saskatchewan outscored Calgary 40-24 in points in the paint, while Gage Grassick, who was playing in her first-career Canada West playoff game. Registered 16 points on 5-10 shooting, while hauling in 10 rebounds. 

Saskatchewan overcame an early 7-0 deficit and eventually an eight-point Calgary lead after the first-quarter, as the Dinos came out firing on 11-16 shooting in the opening 10 minutes of play.

"I thought we had a slow start. Calgary was on fire in the first quarter. I think they shot the ball 70 percent. We knew the first quarter was going to be critical for us, trying to weather the storm. I think we weathered it and then just kind of hung in there," said Thomaidis.

Saskatchewan was able to close the gap in the second-quarter. Ahlstrom connected on a buzzer-beating three to make it a one-point game at recess, as the Huskies outscored the Dinos 18-11 in the quarter.

"That was a big momentum builder for us. We did not play a great half, but to only be down one at the half was huge for us. I thought our defence carried us in the second half," said Thomaidis, when asked about the importance of the Ahlstrom triple.

After a Calgary three-pointer began the quarter and madee it a four-point lead for the home side, Saskatchewan took over. Katriana Philipenko started the run with a steal and score, followed by seven consecutive points from Ahlstrom to flip the game on its head. Another bucket by Philipenko closed the run and made it 48-41 with 6:36 left in the quarter —maintaining the seven-point lead at the end of the third.

"Honestly, it was more just doing the things that we talked about and getting them done. In the first half, we just didn't execute some of the game plan. We weren't as crisp on the defensive end and we paid for it," said Thomaidis, when asked about halftime adjustments made.

A scrappy fourth quarter that saw the pair of programs combine for just five field goals allowed the Huskies to hang on and escape Calgary with the win. 

"Defensively, we just really picked it up in the second half and did a much better job. We kind of grinded it out on the offensive end," said Thomaidis. 

As mentioned, the win allows Saskatchewan to advance to the Canada West Final Four. They will take on the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Friday, Mar. 18 at the PAC, after they defeated the Trinity Western Spartans in quarter-final action today in Calgary. 

All the action can be seen on CanadaWest.TV presented by Co-op.