Box Score Box Score

The University of Regina's women's basketball team mounted a huge charge in the fourth quarter, but the No. 1-ranked Saskatchewan Huskies recovered to hang on for a 67-66 win in a wild Canada West game on Thursday night at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.

Saskatchewan controlled most of the contest through the first three quarters, opening up a lead that reached as many as 16 points shortly after halftime. The tide changed in the fourth quarter, as Danielle Schmidt, Carly Graham, and Lindsay Ledingham helped the Cougars go on a 17-4 run to take their first lead since the first quarter.

After two more lead changes, a jumper from the right baseline by Kim Tulloch gave the Huskies a one-point advantage. The Cougars had two chances to take the lead late, but a missed Ledingham turnaround jumper and a turnover meant that the home side had to foul. Jill Humbert missed both free throws for Saskatchewan, but the Huskies got possession of the offensive rebound to seal their 19th conference victory of the season.

Humbert led all players in points (19) and steals (5) and tied for the game high with five assists. Tulloch, who came in as Canada West's leading scorer, had 10 points and 10 rebounds to score a double-double while Katie Miyazaki had 12 points despite missing a large portion of the second half while in foul trouble. Jana Spindler and Lauren Whyte both chipped in with eight points for Saskatchewan (19-2).

Schmidt had a career-high 18 points for the Cougars (17-4), 11 of which came in the fourth quarter alone. Ledingham tied Schmidt with 18 points, while Graham hit three three-pointers and ended up with 11 points off the bench. Joanna Zalesiak had six points and five assists before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.

The win gives Saskatchewan full control of the conference, as the Huskies need just one win in their final three games to claim first place in the Canada West standings.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday night in Saskatoon.

NOTES: Graham now has 46 three-pointers on the season and needs just two more to tie Bree Burgess' school single-season record of 48 set during the 2000-01 campaign.