QUEBEC CITY, Que. – For the third consecutive season the University of Saskatchewan Huskie women's basketball team will play for the national title.
Led by an incredible effort from fifth-year
Ella Murphy Wiebe, who recorded career-highs in both points and rebounds, Saskatchewan defeated the Laval Rouge et Or 55-43 on their home court to punch their ticket to the title game.
After taking on the Carleton Ravens in consecutive seasons in the national final, the Huskies will now clash with the No. 2-seed UNB Reds who took down the Calgary Dinos to earn their spot in the tomorrow's final.
"It feels amazing [to be back in the final]," said Murphy Wiebe who finished the game with 26 points and 16 rebounds. "This game was really tough and there were points in it where we weren't up like we normally are. So I'm just really grateful that my team was always there being supportive and just believing in us, believing in me, and we got it done so I'm so happy."
In what was a defensive battle from the opening possession, neither team was able to find offensive rhythm early, shooting just 20% and 22% from the field. Murphy Wiebe was the lone student-athlete who was able to consistently find the basket however, recording 12 of the Huskies 14 points to help Saskatchewan take a 14-12 lead.
Defence continued to take centre stage in front of a raucous home crowd of Rouge et Or fans in the second, which saw the Huskies enter the break with a 25-22 advantage.
The third remained tightly-contested with neither team able to control momentum or produce scoring runs of any kind. Tied in scoring in the frame, Saskatchewan continued to hold the lead as the semifinal contest entered the fourth.
Early in the fourth, the Rouge et Or showed life in the form of their perimeter shooting. Laval took their first lead in over 10 minutes 38-37 before Murphy Wiebe connected on a jumper and
Andrea Dodig went 2-for-2 from the free throw line to reestablish the lead.
Téa DeMong then hit what was likely the biggest shot of the night as the veteran connected on a corner three, Saskatchewan's one and only triple of the game, to put the Huskies up by six with just over four minutes remaining.
Murphy Wiebe, Dodig and
Gage Grassick then combined for 11 points over the final minutes to secure the win and send Saskatchewan to their seventh U SPORTS Championship game.
"Their defense was incredible, really," said Saskatchewan head coach
Lisa Thomaidis. "I thought Ella opened up so strong and then they adjusted and then took away our ball screen game and just seemed to be causing us fits. We couldn't get anything easy for the longest time. Thankfully, our defense was able to hold us. And then Téa hit the dagger when we most needed it, so that was huge."
With her second double-double of the season Murphy Wiebe led all scorers with 26 points and was the only Huskie in double-figures. She also led the game on the glass with 16 rebounds.
"She was fantastic at the offensive end, clearly," said Thomaidis. "What she did at the defensive end was probably as impactful. To be able to switch her onto a guard when they were isoing and in the ball screen for her to get down and defend and just challenge at the rim and not foul. I mean, that's so hard. You have to be such an amazing athlete to do that, and so she did. That was really critical."
Maya Flindall and Téa DeMong were the next highest Saskatchewan scorers with nine points each while DeMong and Dodig each reached double-digit rebound totals. Rebounding was another key to the win for the Huskies, who out-rebounded the Rouge et Or 52 to 31.
Saskatchewan will now return to the court at the Amphithéâtre Desjardins tomorrow afternoon (Mar. 8) for the 2026 U SPORTS Final 8 Championship. Tip off against the Reds is set for 5:00pm local time and 3:00pm Central Standard Time.
The national title game will serve as just the second Final 8 meeting between Saskatchewan and UNB, with the only other coming in the 2005-06 championship tournament.
