The University of Regina's women's basketball team took control early and cruised to an 83-71 win over Calgary on Friday night in a Canada West game at the Jack Simpson Gym on the University of Calgary campus.
 
The win was a crucial one for the Cougars, as it clinches at least a top-three finish which means that Regina will host a Canada West quarterfinal series three weekends from now. Combined with Alberta's upset win at Saskatchewan on Friday, the Cougars (16-2) remain alone in third place in the Pioneer Division standings, a half game back of the second-place Huskies (16-1) and a full game back of the first-place Pandas (17-1).
 
Katie Polischuk was the offensive catalyst for the Cougars in Friday's win, going 5-for-11 from three-point range and pouring in a game-high 21 points to spark the U of R. Charlotte Kot had 19 points and eight rebounds, while Alyssia Kajati had her second double-double in as many nights with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Claire Colborne led Calgary with 14 points. The loss drops the Dinos' record to 14-5 and ensures Calgary will finish in fourth place in the Pioneer Division. They'll get a bye through to the conference quarterfinals, but will hit the road to match up against whichever of Alberta, Regina, and Saskatchewan end up in second place in the division.
 
The Cougars went on a 10-0 run midway through the first quarter to build up a double-digit lead, and the visitors led 26-19 after the opening 10 minutes. Calgary got the first bucket of the second to cut the Cougar lead to five points, but that was as close as the Dinos would get for the remainder of the game. The Cougars led 49-37 at halftime, and put it away with a 12-2 run that gave them a 24-point cushion early in the fourth.
 
The Cougars will now prepare for a showdown at home next weekend against provincial rival Saskatchewan, which entered this weekend ranked No. 1 in the CIS.
 
NOTES: The Cougars will host the Canada West quarterfinal series beginning with Game 1 on Friday, Mar. 4 at the CKHS … Game 2 will be played on Saturday, Mar. 5 with Game 3 - if it's needed - to be played on Sunday, Mar. 6 … start time for all games will be 7 p.m.