Josh Tevlin; Dinos Communications

CALGARY – Four quarters of physicality and intensity resulted in an 83-53 victory for the hosting University of Calgary Dinos over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Saturday night at the Jack Simpson Gym.

The Dinos were in full control of this basketball game from the moment it tipped off. A hungry Huskies team that had been on a dominant four game win streak was no match for a much improved Dinos squad. Calgary came out with confidence and focus, which showed in their 49.2 field goal percentage and 40 three-point percentage. The Dinos took the lead in the first quarter and never looked back, running away with a 30-point victory.

The game opened with immediate intensity from both teams. Dinos star guard Sascha Lichtenwald picked up two early fouls, but that didn't stop Calgary from playing aggressive and locking down the reigning U SPORTS silver medalist Huskies. The key factor for the Dinos was shutting down Huskies' star forward Summer Masikewich early in the game. They accomplished this by holding Masikewich to just two points in the first quarter.

The second quarter showed strong offense from both teams. Masikewich totalled six points in the second quarter, helping the Huskies briefly shrink the gap to under 10 points before halftime. Impressive offence from Liene Stalidzane who concluded the game with 12 points and five assists, managed to hold off the advancing Huskies.

The second half was dominated by efficient scoring from the Dinos, who outscored Saskatchewan 45-23 in the final two quarters of the game. The fourth quarter specifically was where this young Dinos team found its stride and showed a lot of maturity. Erin McIntosh emerged as a key component for the Dinos offense late in this game, helping her team shoot 50 per cent from beyond the arc and 57.1 per cent from the field in the fourth quarter. It was evident that the Dinos were not taking their foot off the gas late in this game and the match concluded with a strong 83-53 win for Calgary.

"It was a much better connection between our defense and our offense," said Dinos Head Coach Damian Jennings. "I thought offensively we made much better decisions."

McIntosh and Bobbi Jo Colburn led the Dinos with 26 and 17 points respectively.

Summer Masikewich added 15 points for the Huskies, along with Carly Ahlstrom, who finished with 14 points.

Next week the Dinos play back-to-back home games against the University of Victoria Vikes at 5 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday in the Jack Simpson Gym, while the Huskies host the Winnipeg Wesmen for a two-game set at the PAC.

-UC-

Photo by David Moll