Cougars Postseason Media Guide

The University of Regina's women's basketball team hosts the CIS Championship this weekend for the first time since 1979 – but unlike that tournament 30 years ago, when the Cougettes (as they were then known) were included in the eight-team field only because they were hosting, the hometown Cougars will be one of the favourites this weekend.

The veteran-laden U of R squad enters the weekend as the No. 2 seed after going 18-4 during the conference schedule, defeating Winnipeg in two straight games, to win the Great Plains Division, and eventually landing a conference silver medal at the Canada West Final Four last weekend in Burnaby, B.C.

The Cougars are led by fifth-year forward Jessica Lynch, who was named a Canada West first-team all-star after averaging 9.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game and pulling down a league-leading 94 offensive rebounds during the 22-game conference schedule. Lynch is in her second year with the Cougars after spending her first three seasons of eligibility with the Lethbridge Pronghorns.

Fifth-year post Chelsea Cassano led the team with an average of 11 points per game and was named a Canada West second-team all-star for the second time in her career. Cassano recently become one of a select few members of the U of R's 1000-point club, as she ended up with 1055 points in conference games during her illustrious five-year career with the Cougars.

Besides Lynch and Cassano, expect fourth-year guard Rebecca Schmidt, fourth-year forward Carmen Stewart, and fifth-year guard Megan Cherkas to get the start this weekend for Regina. The Cougars are one of the deepest teams in the CIS, with post Brittany Read, guard Stacey Walker, and forward Gabrielle Gheyssen just a few of several Cougars that play an effective role off the bench for third-year head coach Dave Taylor. Read finished fourth on the Cougars in both scoring and rebounding despite averaging just 13.5 minutes per game, while Walker led the conference with a .476 percentage from beyond the arc.

The Cougars will open this weekend's championship on Friday night following the opening ceremonies against Atlantic University Sport champion Cape Breton in what will be the first postseason game between the two teams. The winner of Friday night's game will move on to face the winner of the Windsor-Saskatchewan quarterfinal game in the semis on Saturday night. The winner of that game will advance to the CIS championship game on Sunday.


CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Thursday, March 5
7:30 p.m - All-Canadian Awards Reception (Casino Regina Show Lounge)

Friday, March 6
1:00 p.m. - Quarterfinal #1: No. 8 Ottawa vs. No. 1 Simon Fraser
3:00 p.m. - Quarterfinal #2: No. 5 Laval vs. No. 4 Alberta
6:00 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies
6:30 p.m. - Quarterfinal #3: No. 7 Cape Breton vs. No. 2 Regina
8:00 p.m. - Quarterfinal #4: No. 6 Saskatchewan vs. No. 3 Windsor

Saturday, March 7
1:00 p.m. - Consolation #1
3:00 p.m. - Consolation #2
6:00 p.m. - Semifinal #1 (The Score)
8:00 p.m. - Semifinal #2 (The Score)

Sunday, March 8
1:00 p.m. - Consolation final
3:00 p.m. - Bronze medal game
6:00 p.m. - Championship final (The Score)