Queen of the court: Lisa Thomaidis has most wins in Canada West women’s basketball

Photo by Michelle Berg /Saskatoon StarPhoenix University of Saskatchewan Huskies head coach Lisa Thomaidis addresses her team during a showdown against provincial rival University of Regina Cougars during a women's basketball game at the University of Saskatchewan's PAC. Photo taken in Saskatoon, Sask. on Friday, February 2, 2024.

Jaime Lammerding

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

University of Saskatchewan Huskies head coach Lisa Thomaidis became the most winningest coach in Canada West women’s basketball history on Saturday night as she guided her team to a 91-35 victory over the host MacEwan Griffins for the 345th win of her career.

Thomaidis, who is in her 26th season of coaching the Huskies and holds a career total record of 345-161, tied the benchmark of 344 wins — set by former UBC head coach Deb Hubbard — on Friday night as the Huskies defeated the Griffins 83-35.

Saskatchewan’s Logan Reider led both teams with 17 points on Friday, while teammate Gage Grassick picked up a game-high 26 points on Saturday.

The wins have also improved the Huskies to a 14-2 record this season. With two weekends left to play, they are sitting second in the Canada West Prairie Conference.

Saskatchewan’s men’s team also picked up a weekend sweep against the Griffins — their first of the season — pulling out narrow victories of 69-64 on Friday and 85-79 on Saturday.

Easton Thimm scored a team-high 15 points for the Dogs in the first game, while Freddy Kapinga led both teams with 21 points in the second game.

The men’s team, which improves to 3-13 and sit ninth in the Prairie Conference, will be in a fight to finish Top 7 and make playoffs with two weekends left in the regular season.

VOLLEYBALL

Fifth-year players for the U of S men’s and women’s volleyball teams played their last regular-season game in front of a hometown crowd on Saturday night, with both capturing wins against the UBC-Okanagan Heat.

Led by 18 kills from Emmett Graham, the men’s team won 3-1 (25-27, 25-13, 25-16 and 29-27), while the women also won 3-1 (25-16, 25-18, 25-27 and 25-20) with Rosetta Cyr picking up 20 kills.

It was a similar scene on Friday night as Lucas Musschoot’s eight kills helped the Huskies sweep the Heat 3-0 (25-16, 25-18 and 25-19) on the men’s side, while Taryn Hannah earned 17 kills with the women winning 3-2 (25-20, 25-22, 21-25, 25-27 and 15-7).

Outside hitters Jefferson Morrow and Joshua Thorson, a serve specialist, were honoured as graduating fifth-year players on the men’s team.

Meanwhile, the women’s team paid tribute to former setter turned Libero/back-row specialist Haley Poier, outside hitter Julia Tregobov and middle Julia Howell Bourner, all graduating players.

There’s only one weekend left of regular-season action for the volleyball teams and both are poised to finish Top 10 in their respective standings and move onto playoffs, with the men currently third at 13-5 and the women seventh at 10-8.

HOCKEY

Chase Bertholet scored three minutes and 53 seconds into overtime to give the Huskies the 5-4 victory over the host MacEwan Griffins on Saturday night in men’s hockey action.

The two teams went back-and-forth for most of the game with Gunner Kinniburgh, Keaton Sorensen, Dawson Holt and Raphael Pelletier also scoring for the Dogs, while Jordan Kooy made 20 saves in net.

On Friday, Saskatchewan entered the third period tied at one, but Ty Prefontaine and Ethan Regneir both scored in the final period to give their team the 3-1 win.

Chantz Petruic opened scoring for Huskies in that game with a goal in the first period, while goaltender Roddy Ross made 19 saves.

Saskatchewan has clinched a spot in the Canada West playoffs and are first overall in the Canada West conference with a 20-4-0 record.

In women’s action, Bronywn Boucher and Jayde Cadiuex scored a pair of goals in the second period on Saturday night to tie the game 2-2 against the visiting Griffins, eventually forcing overtime and a shootout where MacEwan came out on top 3-2.

Colby Wilson made 28 saves in that game.

The night before, Wilson claimed her fourth shutout victory of the season as the Huskies defeated the Griffins 1-0. Boucher had the lone goal for Saskatchewan.

With a 5-13-6 record and only two weekends left to play, the Huskies are in a must-win situation to finish Top 3 in the East Division and make the playoffs. They are currently fourth and trail the third-place Regina Cougars by eight points.

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