WBB: Alberta rivals square up for Championship title

by Brian Swane, special to CW

The Valerie Girsberger Trophy is finally coming back to Alberta. The only question is whether it will reside in the Northern or Southern part of the province. 

For the first time in nearly four decades, the University of Alberta Pandas and Calgary Dinos are meeting in the Canada West women’s basketball championship final, 2 p.m. MST Saturday (March 4) at Jack Simpson Gym in Calgary.

The road to the championship final saw both teams from Wild Rose Country travel one province to the East, where they upset higher-seeded opponents in the semi-final round last weekend. The Dinos defeated the host Regina Cougars 71-62 at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport, while the Pandas knocked off the three-time defending champion Saskatchewan Huskies 69-57 in Saskatoon. 

There have been around 150 games between these time-honoured rivals since they last played each other for the top prize in Canada West women’s hoops, a thrilling 66-63 victory for the Dinos on Feb. 25, 1984, at Victoria’s historic McKinnon Gym.

That memorable tilt went down to the wire, and the championship rematch 39 years in the making will be just as closely contested if the latest meetings between the Dinos and Pandas are any indication.

The women’s basketball teams representing the University of Alberta and Calgary split their two meetings of the 2022-23 regular season, in November at the Saville Community Sports Centre, where the Dinos won 70-65 before the Pandas responded with an 87-76 victory. Both games saw the winning team rally from a fourth quarter deficit and featured lead changes in the final several minutes.

Calgary was propelled by its young talent during the regular season, with first-year forward Louise Rouse (Canada West All-Rookie Team) and second-year guard Annacy Palmer (Canada West Third Team All-Star) ranking first and second, respectively, on the team in points per game, but it was senior guard Bobbi Jo-Colburn who stepped up with a game-high 21 points while shooting seven-of-nine from the field in Calgary’s defeat of the Cougars.

The experienced trio of fourth-year guard Jenna Harpe, fifth-year guard Emma Kary (Canada West First Team All Star), and third-year forward Claire Signatovich (Canada West Second Team All-Star & Defensive Player of the Year) were Alberta’s top three point scorers both during the regular season and against Saskatchewan last weekend. Kary loves playing the Dinos: the Calgary product erupted for 35 and 30 points in Alberta’s two games against her hometown team.

Regardless of who takes home the trophy, their triumphant moment will be a long time coming: Calgary’s last championship came in 2001, which was the seventh in program history, while Alberta is still searching for its first title, having most recently played in the Canada West final three years ago, when the Pandas were beaten by Saskatchewan.

Following Saturday’s game, Alberta and Calgary will both head to Cape Breton for the 2023 U SPORTS Women’s Basketball Final 8, March 9 to 12 at Sullivan Field House in Sydney, N.S.

CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

To stay up-to-date on all the action, visit Championship Central.