Winnipeg women’s basketball team lose in first round playoffs

20-2 record give Wesmen second chance at nationals

The Winnipeg Wesmen women’s basketball team lost in first round playoffs to the University of Fraser Valley’s Cascades on Friday Feb. 25 and Saturday Feb. 26. 

Winnipeg, who had a record of 20-2 prior to playoffs, were knocked out of CanWest playoffs over the two heartbreaking nights.

Despite having had significant leads both nights, Winnipeg lost 77-63 on Friday night, and 77-64 on Saturday night. 

Fraser Valley were hot both nights from outside the 3-point arc, and fifth-year guard Tessa Klassen drained five threes alone on Saturday night.

Wesmen fourth-year guard and co-captain Amy Ogidan was disappointed with the weekend.

The Cascades improved significantly since the last time they played the Wesmen, and the improvement took Winnipeg by surprise.

“I don’t think we were over-confident. Our coaching staff is very humble and we always focus and prepare really well for any opponent regardless of if they’ve won many games or not,” Ogidan said.

We might not be CanWest champions but we still had a great season thus far, and we still have a great shot at getting to nationals.

Amy Ogidan, co-captain, Wesmen women’s basketball team

“But mentally we weren’t prepared for the adjustments and improvements that Fraser Valley had made as a team since we played them last. Throughout the game we just didn’t respond well to the adversity we faced.”

Despite the hard loss, thanks to their impressive record the Wesmen still have a shot at a national title.

They will not participate in the CanWest championship March 3 and 4, but they will advance to the regional championship the following weekend. 

Winnipeg will travel to Ontario for the central regional challenge and if they win they will then advance to the national championship.

Ogidan is excited that the team still has a shot at the major title, despite their loss to Fraser Valley.

“We just need to move forward without the external validation,” she said. “We might not be CanWest champions, but we still had a great season thus far, and we still have a great shot at getting to nationals.”

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