Wesmen Game Results  February 21 - February 23, 2008

Thursday, February 21

AWAY (Great Plains Division Finals - best of three series)

7:00 p.m. Women's Basketball @ Regina  (Game One)

WESMEN 64   Regina 71

COUGARS DRAW FIRST BLOOD IN DIVISION FINAL SERIES

The Regina Cougars drew first blood in the Great Plains Division Final. The Cougars defeated the Winnipeg Wesmen 71-64 in game of the best of three series Thursday evening in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Fourth year wing Maja Kralovcova led the Cougars with 19 points. Jessica Lynch followed with a double-double 17 points and a game high 11 rebounds.

Winnipeg was led by first year guard Amy Ogidan’s game high 22 points. Caity Gooch followed with 15 points, three assists and five steals.

Winnipeg fell behind early on in the game with the Cougars scoring eight straight points from the opening whistle to gain the early advantage. The Cougars led the Wesmen 21-11 after the opening ten minutes.

The second quarter belonged to the Wesmen, who were able to chip away at the Cougar lead. The Wesmen were able to close the gap to five points at 29-24, going on a 7-0 run to get back in the game. Regina went into the halftime break leading 35-30.

In the third quarter Winnipeg came out determined and hungry and made a statement going on a 10-3 run to grab their first lead of the game with just over six minutes to play me the quarter. After the midway point of the third quarter, Winnipeg got themselves into foul trouble which translated into seven Cougar points from the charity stripe. Regina was able to expand their lead to 53-44 after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter Winnipeg was able to close to within two points at 55-53 with just over seven minutes to play. Regina responded scoring seven straight points to regain their nine point lead at 62-53. Winnipeg closed to within four points down the stretch but the Cougars responded with timely baskets of their own to win game one of the series.

Game two of the best of three series will take place on Friday night from Regina. Tip off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. If necessary game three will take place on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m.


Friday, February 22

AWAY (Great Plains Division Finals - best of three series)

7:00 p.m.  Women's Basketball @ Regina (Game Two)

WESMEN 60   Regina 78

WESMEN LOSE SERIES TO COUGARS TO END SEASON

The Winnipeg Wesmen were defeated 78-60 by the Regina Cougars in game two of the best of three Great Plains Division Final Friday night in Regina. The Cougars move on to the Canada West Final Four after winning the series 2-0.

The Cougars as they did in game one of the series got off to a quick start on the young Wesmen squad. The Cougars led 14-5 with 3:20 left in the opening quarter. The Wesmen did not give up and went on a 10-2 run, led by Catie Gooch’s pair of three pointers to cut the Cougar lead to 16-15 after the opening quarter.

The Cougars relied o their vast experience in the second quarter, outscoring the Wesmen 19-7 to open up a 35-22 lead at halftime. Winnipeg had problems solving the Cougar defense as the team was forced into many awkward shots with the shot clock winding down.

The third quarter was an offensive display with both teams answering each others baskets. Every time Winnipeg would cut into the Cougar lead, Regina would respond with a basket of their own. Winnipeg closed the gap to seven points at 50-43 with 57 seconds left and had momentum on their side until Cougar guard Rebecca Schmidt drained a three pointer with 18 seconds left in the quarter to give the Cougars a 53-44 lead after three quarters.

The Cougars kept rolling in the final quarter and never letting up, holding a double digit lead throughout the quarter before both teams took out their starters and went to their respective benches to close out the game.

“Youth caught up to us in this game”, said Wesmen Head Coach Tanya McKay, who’s squad most experienced players were third year players Randie Gibson and Jessica Stromberg.

Rebecca Schmidt led the Cougars with 12 points, followed by Chelsea Cassano with 11 points.

Catie Gooch led Winnipeg with a game high 17 points, including four-three pointers. Impressive first year guard Amy Ogidan finished with 14 points.

Canada West Final Four @ Alberta

 Men's Volleyball vs UBC

UBC def WESMEN 3-1 (22-25, 30-28, 25-20, 25-19)

UBC DEFEATS WESMEN AT CANADA WEST FINAL FOUR

The UBC Thunderbirds opened up the Canada West Final Four with a 3-1 (22-25, 30-28, 25-20, 25-19) victory over the Winnipeg Wesmen late Friday night in Edmonton, Alberta.

Winnipeg played a solid first set leading at both technical timeouts (8-5 & 16-12). Winnipeg would go on to win the opening set 25-22.

The Wesmen had the lead in set number two 8-7, before UBC fought back to take a 16-14 lead at the second technical timeout. Winnipeg had a chance to close out the set and take command of the match leading 24-22, only to have UBC fight off two match points. The teams slugged it out until UBC eventually won the set 30-28.

UBC dominated the third set jumping out to leads of 8-3 and 16-10 at the two technical timeouts. Winnipeg made a charge late in the set but the Thunderbirds hung on to win the third set 25-20.

In set number four UBC once again kept the Wesmen off balance holding leads of 8-5 and 16-12 at the technical timeouts. UBC went o to outscore Winnipeg 9-7 down the stretch to win the match ending set 25-19.

Steve Gotch led UBC with a match high 17 kills.

Ben Schellenberg led Winnipeg with 12 kills, eight digs and three service aces.

Winnipeg will face Thompson Rivers in the bronze medal match Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. Wpg Time). UBC will face Alberta in the gold medal match.


Saturday, February 23

AWAY             

Canada West Final Four @ Alberta)

 Men's Volleyball

WESMEN vs Thompson Rivers (Bronze Medal Match)

Thompson Rivers def WESMEN 3-2 (23-25, 25-19, 25-19,18-25,15-12)

THOMPSON RIVERS DOWN WESMEN IN BRONZE MEDAL MATCH

The Winnipeg Wesmen dropped a tough 3-2 decision to the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack in the Canada West Final Four bronze medal match Saturday night in Edmonton.

Robin Schoebel led the Wolfpack with a match high 23 kills. Gord Perrin had an all-round solid match finishing with 16 kills, three aces and four blocks.

Canada West MVP Ben Schellenberg had a team high 15 kills to lead the Wesmen. Alan Ahow had 13 kills and setter Dustin Addison-Schneider had 45 set assists, three aces and three blocks,

Winnipeg gained the early advantage in the match winning the opening set 25-23. The Wolfpack regrouped and won the next two sets by identical 25-19 scores. The Wesmen played a solid fourth set and showed their championship form winning the fourth set 25-18 to force a fifth and deciding set.

Thompson Rivers gained the early advantage in the final lead leadingf 8-7 at the timeout. Both teams exchanged points until back to back kills by Robin Schoebel and Tony Zylstra sealed the fifth set 15-12 for the Wolfpack.

Winnipeg will now head to the CIS Men's Volleyball Championships in Laval, Quebec. The Wesmen will go in as the defending champions and will look for the schools 11th MVB National Championship.