The Canada West (CW) playoffs start on tonight as the quest for the Championship starts. The defending Champions, Calgary Dinos are looking for a three-peat on the men’s side, while on the women’s side the Saskatchewan Huskies are looking to win their second straight Championship, a feat that has not happened since University of British Columbia Thunderbirds did in 2006-08.

CW Women’s Preview

#12 Thompson Rivers (TRU) Wolfpack vs. #5 Fraser Valley (UFV) Cascades:

The Wolfpack were the final team to clinch a playoff berth, their first in three years. They enter the playoffs as the 12th seed after finishing the CW regular season with an 7-13 record. The Cascades finished the regular season with a 16-4 record which was one of the best season in program history. They end the regular season on high note winning eleven straight games including two victories over the Wolfpack two weeks ago.

The Wolfpack averaged 60.7 points a game and 35.0 rebounds a game. They held opponents to 72.2 points a game and 17.1 turnovers a game. The Cascades averaged 73.3 points a game along with 44.7 rebounds a game. They held its opponents to 63.9 points a game and 18.3 turnovers per a game.

The Wolfpack’s best player this season was fifth-year guard, Leilani Carney. Carney finished the regular season averaging 12.0 points a game and 240 points in 20 games . She also had 66 rebounds and 54 assists . In their last two meetings against the Cascades she was limited to four points and two rebounds in 75-50 lost on January 31st and the next night she had 16 points and six rebounds in 91-76 lost on February 1st .

The Cascades best player this season was CW MVP contender fifth- year forward Taylor Claggett. She averaged 19.6 points a game,391 points this season which was 2nd in the conference. She led the conference in rebounding with 209 rebounds. She was also first in free throws connecting on 145/182 attempts. In their previous matchup, she had two double-doubles. She dropped 12 points and ten rebounds in the first game and the second game she had 19 points and 12 rebounds.

#11 Regina Cougars vs. #6 Victoria Vikes:

The Cougars enter the playoffs in unfamiliar spot then previous way as they need to play a play- in- game; in years past they had a bye. They finished the regular season with a record of 8-12 which was the good enough for the 11th seed . The Vikes finished the regular season with a 12-8 record.

The Cougars averaged 69.5 points a game and 45.5 rebounds per a game. They held opponents to 66.3 points/ game and had 13.6 turnovers a game, which was last in the conference. The Vikes averaged 73.1 points a game and 42.9 rebounds per a game. They limited opponents to 68.9 points a game and 15.3 turnovers a game.

The Cougars best player this season was fifth-year guard, Michaela Kleisinger. She had an amazing final season as she had three triple- doubles including back to back ones against Winnipeg Wesmen in November. She averaged 13.0 points a game,260 points along with 143 rebounds. She led the conference in assists with 121 and minutes played with 728 minutes. The Vikes were led by third-year guard, Ashlyn Day. Day averaged 16.4 points a game and 328 points. She also had 96 rebounds and was 6th in conference in FG making 123/277.

#9 University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) Timberwolves vs. #8 Lethbridge Pronghorns:

It was an up and down season for the Timberwolves who at one point were near the bottom of the conference. They end up going on to win eight straight games to end the year with a record of 11-9. The team also dealt with a lot of injury woes especially in the last few games of the year. The Pronghorns, like the Timberwolves finished the season with a record of 11-9 and end the regular season on four- game winning streak. The Horns had tough season as they played three of the four top seeds in the conference, Alberta Pandas, Calgary Dinos and UBC Thunderbirds.

The Timberwolves during the season averaged 73.6 points/ game, 4th in conference and 41.5 rebounds per a game. On defense, they held opponents to 69.3 points/game and had 18.5 turnovers a game. The Pronghorns averaged 68.5 points a game and 40.9 rebounds a game. They limited it’s opponents to 65.7 points/ game and force 19.9 turnovers a game.

The Timberwolves on offence are led by its one-two punch of fifth-year guard, Maria Mongomo and fourth- year forward, Madison Landry. Mongomo won the Canada-West scoring title averaging 20.1 points a game and 401 points in 20 games. She also was first in steals with 67. She was second in rebounding with 197 rebounds and shots made connecting on 143/ 372 field goals made . Landry finished third in Canada- West scoring averaging 19.1 points/ game and 382 points. She had 84 rebounds as well. The Horns offense runs through fifth-year guard, Kacie Bosch. Bosch averaged 16.6 points a game, 331 points all- together. She was second in Canada- West in steals with 59. She also had 147 rebounds on the year.

#7 Winnipeg Wesmen vs. #10 Manitoba Bisons:

The Wesmen ended the regular season on sour note being swept by UBC Thunderbirds on the road. They finished the regular season with an 12-8 record. The Bisons unlike their rivals, finished the season with a sweep of Brandon Bobcats. The two schools met in late November where Wesmen swept the series.

The Wesmen averaged 66.4 points a game and 42.2 rebounds a game. They held opponents to 68.6 points against them and they also averaged 19.3 turnovers a game. The Bisons averaged 72.4 points/ game along with 43.0 rebounds a game. They limited it’s opponents to 73.9 points per a game and 18.3 turnovers per a game.

The Wesmen scoring is fueled by rookie guard, Anna Kernaghann. The rookie averaged 12.5 points a game with 225 points and 57 rebounds in 18 games. In the two games against Bisons, she had 11 points and six rebounds; in the next game she had 19 points and five rebounds. Bisons are lead by fourth-year guard, Taylor Randall. Randall averagd 18.0 points a game and scored 342 points. She also had 70 assists and 78 rebounds. She had eight points and three rebounds in the first two gams. The next game, she had 28 points and six rebounds.