CALGARY - The Jack Simpson Gym rocked with excitement as hundreds of fans experienced the Dinos electrify the building with a strong 95-83 overtime win against the higher seed Regina Cougars. This was the Cougars' second loss of the season as their record falls to 15-2 while the Dinos climb to 14-4.

The intensity of the game progressively built from the first quarter with each minute becoming more intense. Both teams hit the hardwood ready to play and kept it neck and neck with each other. The Cougars punished the Dinos early with spectacular defense. However, both offensively and defensively, the Dinos were able to edge out the Cougars and managed a 10 point lead.

The Cougars, however, would not back down and clawed their way back into the game and tied it back up at 39-39 in the 2nd quarter. A nail-biting points situation would be the case until the 4th quarter with the Cougars in the lead. A key layup by Anmol Mattu, however, tied the game back up to 54-54 in the 3rd quarter. In the 4th, the score was a 71-69 Cougars lead with 12 seconds left on the game clock but a game-saving layup by Kristie Sheils sent the contest into overtime. The Dinos would take control in overtime and win the game 95-83 after scoring 24 points in 5 minutes.

The stats contest was close between the Dinos and the Cougars. The Dinos beat the Cougars in bench scoring 20-17, points in the paint 42-40, and steals 13-7. The Cougars beat the Dinos in assists 15-12. While the Cougars outrebounded the Dinos 56-37, the Dinos scored 32 points off of 10 Regina turnovers. The stars of the game were Kelsey Lund (25 points on 6-11 FG and 13-18 FT, 8 rebounds, 2 steals), and Kirstie Sheils (18 points, 2 steals, 2 assists). Brianna Ghali, Emma Nieuwenhuizen, Claire Colborne, and Anmol Mattu were the main scorers apart from Lund and Sheils.

"How did I experience it? With a lot of perspiration at times" quipped head coach Damian Jennings.

He explained that this year the team had to talk about how to close off games and win them. He said "to go into overtime and score 24 points in 5 minutes against a team as well coached and skillful as they are was impressive. That comes down to our conditioning, our fitness, our commitment to our offseason...and just the chemistry of this group believing in the style of play. It wasn't enough tonight to get it done by 40 minutes but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love the challenge, the test. I want to be in games that are close, I don't want to be in blowouts [and] this is fun"

Along with packing the Jack, the Dinos celebrated seniors Vanessa Wesolowski, Kelsey Lund, Emma Nieuwenhuizen tonight. Tomorrow night, the Dinos will rematch the Cougars in the Jack Simpson Gym at 6 pm and will celebrate seniors Ashley Hirons, Claire Colborne, and Kristie Sheils.

Kamran Dadi, Dinos Communications Assistant