The University of Regina will host the Winnipeg Wesmen this weekend in women's basketball action as the two teams vie for the last-ever Great Plains Division championship and a berth to the Canada West Final Four.

The Wesmen, who enter the weekend ranked No. 8 in the CIS, needed all three games – and a pair of Amy Ogidan free throws with no time remaining in the fourth quarter of Game 3 – to advance past Manitoba in the division semifinal last weekend in Winnipeg.

Including a non-conference game in early October, the two teams have met five times this season, with the Cougars taking three of those games. The Wesmen were one of just two teams to defeat the Cougars in Regina during the conference schedule, as Winnipeg scored a 67-61 win back on Nov. 1. Winnipeg also recorded a non-conference win over the Cougars at the CKHS in early October.

Winners of six consecutive games, the No. 3-ranked Cougars finished in first place in the division with an 18-4 record and earned a bye through the first round of the playoffs. The Cougars will be looking to advance to their fifth Canada West Final Four since joining the conference prior to the 2001-02 season.

The 2008-09 season will be the last with a three-division format in the conference, as the Central and Great Plains divisions will merge to form an eight-team East Division next year. That will likely mean far less postseason meetings between the Cougars and their ancient foes from the now-defunct Great Plains Athletic Conference, which comprised of Regina, Brandon, Manitoba, and Winnipeg.

Entering the weekend, the Cougars have won all 11 postseason games played between the two teams in Regina. This will be a rematch of last year's division final, which Regina won in two straight games to advance to the Final Four.

The Cougars and the Wesmen get the series underway on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the CKHS. Game 2 will go on Friday at 7 p.m. and, if needed, Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.

Live statistics and live audio will be available for each game of the series at www.reginacougars.com.

Regina/Winnipeg Postseason History
1977 – GPAC final series in Winnipeg – Winnipeg 2, Regina 0
1978 – GPAC final series in Winnipeg – Winnipeg 2, Regina 0
1979 – GPAC final series in Winnipeg – Winnipeg 2, Regina 0
1985 – GPAC third place game in Winnipeg – Winnipeg 78, Regina 51
1987 – GPAC semifinal game in Winnipeg – Winnipeg 66, Regina 52
1988 – GPAC semifinal game in Regina – Regina 68, Winnipeg 67
1989 – GPAC final series in Regina – Regina 2, Winnipeg 0
1990 – GPAC final series in Regina – Regina 2, Winnipeg 0
1991 – GPAC final series in Regina – Regina 2, Winnipeg 0
1996 – GPAC semifinal series in Winnipeg – Winnipeg 2, Regina 1
2000 – GPAC final series in Regina – Regina 2, Winnipeg 0
2002 – CIS bronze medal game in Hamilton – Winnipeg 64, Regina 47
2004 – CIS semifinal game in Winnipeg – Regina 90, Winnipeg 77
2008 – Great Plains Division final series in Regina – Regina 2, Winnipeg 0
2009 – Great Plains Division final series in Regina – Feb. 19-21