Edmonton, Alta. (Mar. 10, 2024) - Ravens Sports Information (Photo: Don Voaklander)
The Carleton Ravens women’s basketball team has repeated as the U SPORTS Champions. The Ravens captured the program's third title in a thrilling 70-67 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies.
With the win the Ravens become the first team to repeat as U SPORTS women’s basketball champions since 2015.
Saskatchewan started strong before Carleton found a rhythm in the second half of the quarter. Using a deep bench, Carleton’s rotations allowed them to push the tempo against the Huskies and pull into a lead with Teresa Donato leading the way. Donato’s 6 points in the quarter helped the Ravens overcome their early 12-8 deficit over the final six minutes of the quarter to pull ahead.
Trailing by five to open the second, Saskatchewan battled shot-for-shot with Carleton to cut the lead but a Tatyanna Burke three just after the midway point of the quarter had Carleton up 8. Gage Grassic continued to lead the Huskies into the fight leading all players in first-half scoring until a Carly Ahlstrom three-pointer made it a one-point game late in the quarter. Teresa Donato would go 1-of-2 at the line to finish the half and Carleton entered the break ahead 39-37.
After a balanced start to the second half, the Huskies took over after the media timeout midway through the quarter outscoring Carleton 13-4 in the final five minutes. Despite Kali Pocrnic and Tatyanna Burke scoring in double digits after 30 minutes, foul trouble was limiting the Ravens' to retake the lead from the Huskies as they trailed 58-54.
Carleton’s strong defensive play forced a series of turnovers to open the fourth quarter. After Teresa Donato opened the scoring for the Ravens, Pocrnic nailed a deep three to put the team up one, if only for a moment. Carly Ahlstrom would score back-to-back buckets for the Huskies including a three from the wing to extend the Saskatchewan lead to four.
Carleton would battle back throughout the quarter but couldn’t close the gap. That is until Kali Pocrnic added another moment to her resume, hitting a step-back jumper with 1:40 to play to put the Ravens ahead by 5 points. Grassic would make another layup for the Huskies to make it a three-point game but Tatyanna Burke put home a layup to seal the championship.
Ravens guard Kyana-Jade Poulin was named to the tournament all-star team while Kali Pocrnic was named the tournament MVP for back-to-back years.
Dani Sinclair becomes the first head coach of the women’s program to win two national titles.
