Cougars briefs

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We love weekend splits

Autumn McDowell
Sports Editor

Women’s basketball

The No. 2 ranked Cougars women’s basketball team suited up in pink jerseys on Nov. 1 for their annual Shoot For The Cure game against highway rivals, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies (No. 6).

Unfortunately, the pink jerseys were not a good luck charm for the home team and the Cougars fell to the Huskies 70-65 in overtime.

The loss marked the first time the Cougars had been defeated in a conference game since Feb. 12, 2011, when they also lost to Saskatchewan.

However, after the nail biting score on Thursday night, the Cougars travelled to Saskatoon just two days later to take on the Huskies once again with a different outcome.

The Cougars earned a 79-65 victory over the home team on Saturday night, giving them a 1-1 record to start the season. The Cougars next action will be this weekend against the Winnipeg Wesman (0-2) in hostile territory.

Men’s basketball

Much like the women’s team, the Cougars men’s basketball team faced off against the Saskatchewan Huskies on Nov. 1 and 3.

While many people expected that the No. 5-ranked Huskies would walk all over the No. 13 Cougars and cruise to an easy victory, Cougars newcomer Frank Brown was not going to let the Huskies spoil his debut.

Brown had a game-high 28 points to help the Cougars capture the 95-90 upset over the visitors. Unfortunately, the tables would turn on Saturday night.

On their second meeting of the week, the Cougars fell 74-89 to the Huskies, which also gives them a 1-1 record to kick off the regular season.

The men’s team will make the trip alongside the women to Winnipeg to take on the Wesman (0-2).

Women’s volleyball

The top ranked team in the nation, Trinity Western University, was in town on Nov. 2 and 3 to put the young Cougars women’s volleyball team to the test.

As predicted, the inexperience of the Cougars – who have zero fifth-year players – fell to the Trinity Western Spartans in three straight sets by scores of 25-17, 25-20, and 25-21 on night No. 1.

The Cougars came out firing on all cylinders on Saturday night and were able to capture a first-set victory over the top ranked team (25-20); however, the home team could not keep up with the visitors pace.

The visiting Spartans went on to take the next three consecutive sets 25-20, 25-18, 25-14 to secure the victory and earn the weekend sweep over the Cougars.

Regina (1-3) will travel to Edmonton this weekend to take on the University of Alberta (2-2).

Men’s volleyball

The Cougars men’s volleyball team continued their tough schedule against the No. 2 Trinity Western Spartans last weekend at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport.

The Spartans, who have notoriously dominated the men’s university volleyball circuit, easily took game No. 1 in three quick sets by scores of 25-21, 25-11 and 25-16.

However, the Spartans wouldn’t have it that easy on night No. 2, as the Cougars came out with something to prove.

Regina came out of the gates Saturday night and scored two consecutive set wins (25-23, 25-23), but with their backs against the wall, the Spartans fought back. Trinity Western was able to win the next two sets 25-19 and 25-22 to send the game to a deciding game five.

Unfortunately, the final set of the match was anything but a back-and-forth battle as the Spartans had more gas left in the tank than the Cougars and hit cruise control to an easy 15-6 victory.

Despite what their record says on the Cougars website, Regina is now 0-4 in the regular season, the website decided to award the team one win for effort apparently.

Women’s hockey

The Cougars women’s hockey team has greatly improved since last season.

Instead of scraping the bottom of the Canada West barrel, the Cougars are currently third with a 6-4 record after earning a weekend split against the Saskatchewan Huskies last weekend.

It was the defence providing the offense on night No. 1 as three out of four goals were scored by blueliners, which allowed the Cougars to earn a 4-3 victory over the visiting Huskies.

However, neither side of the Cougars attack was able to generate any offense on night No.2 in Saskatoon and the Cougars fell to the Huskies 0-2.

The Cougars will enjoy a week off before travelling to Edmonton to take on the University of Alberta on Nov. 16-17.

Photo courtesy Emily Wright

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