The University of Regina's women's basketball team trailed at the half, but took control in the third quarter and held off Guelph for a 64-58 win on Thursday night on the first day of a four-team non-conference tournament at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.
 
Guelph led for most of the first half after an 11-0 run that saw four different Gryphons score field goals, but the Cougars stayed within seven and cut the visitors' lead to 28-23 with a Sidney Dobner layup with 10 seconds left before halftime.
 
The Cougars simply caught fire in the third, at one point netting 10 consecutive points as they opened up a double-digit lead by scoring 18 of the first 22 points of the second half. Guelph made things interesting late when Bridget Atkinson went on a personal 5-0 run and another free throw by Dana Van Balkom with 35 seconds left made it a 60-58 game, but the Cougars got a pair free throws of their own by both Katie Polischuk and Kehlsie Crone in the waning seconds of the game to salt away the win.
 
Polischuk had just five points at halftime but buried Guelph with 16 in the second half to finish with a game-high 21, including five tiriples. Charlotte Kot put up a big double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds, while Christina McCusker added 10 rebounds. Dobner was all over the stat sheet with six points, six rebounds, and a game-high seven assists.
 
Guelph, which is coached by former Cougar assistant Christin Dickenson, got a double-double from Katherine MacTavish with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Atkinson added 15 points, while Barbara Inrig-Pieterse scored 10.
 
Guelph falls to 1-1 against CIS competition this year and will meet Saskatchewan tomorrow night (5:00) in the early game at the CKHS. The Cougars (3-0) will follow with a game against Fraser Valley which will tip off at 7 p.m.
 
TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Game 1 - Saskatchewan 92, Fraser Valley 58 [box]
Game 2 - Regina 64, Guelph 58 [box]

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, 5:00 - Guelph vs. Saskatchewan
Friday, 7:00 - Regina vs. Fraser Valley
Saturday, 10:00 - Fraser Valley vs. Guelph
Saturday, 12:00 - Regina vs. Saskatchewan