By: Daniel Herrick, Huskie Ahtletics

SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan Huskies prevailed 73-62 over the University of Regina Cougars in an all-Saskatchewan Canada West Final Saturday night at the PAC to claim their fourth conference title in program history.

Saskatchewan outscored Regina 24-8 in the third quarter to build up an insurmountable lead heading to the fourth. The Huskies closed the third on a 15-2 run to take a 61-39 lead after three quarters.

Regina pushed back in the fourth quarter with a 20-4 run in the fourth quarter, but the Huskies still held an 11 point lead and sealed the victory with a Desarae Hogberg three ball with 1:31 remaining.

The Huskies put up 22 points in the second quarter while holding the Cougars to just 13 in order to lead 37-31 at halftime after trailing Regina 18-15 at the end of the opening 10 minutes.

"That's the best we've played all year and that's all you can ask for, to be playing your best basketball in March," said Huskie head coach Lisa Thomaidis. "They've put in the time and the energy, for them to come out and perform like that...I couldn't be happier for them."

The win earns the Huskies their first conference title since 2013-14. Saturday night's rematch of the 2011 Final in Saskatoon proved the same result, as the Huskies took that meeting 77-74.

Sabine Dukate once again led the way for the Huskies scoring 18 points while adding four assists. Dukate did the bulk of her damage from beyond the arc going four-for-six. Desarae Hogberg scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half and helping ignite the Huskies strong third quarter. Four of the five Huskie starters finished the night with double digit scoring figures.

Charlotte Kot and Katie Polischuk each scored 14 points to lead the attack for the Cougars. Kot led Regina on the glass with eight boards, while Polischuk hit on four-of-seven attempts from three-point range.

Both the Huskies and Cougars now advance to the CIS Final 8 next weekend hosted by the UNB Varsity Reds in Fredericton, N.B.