KINGSTON, Ont. (March 31, 2022) – Julia Chadwick (Ottawa, Ont.) scored 18 points and Emma Weltz (Timmins, Ont.) added 16 points as the host Queen's Gaels defeated the No. 2 seed Saskatchewan Huskies 62-55 in the final quarterfinal matchup at the U SPORTS Women's Final 8 Basketball Championship.

A big second quarter propelled the Gaels to the win, outscoring the Huskies 27-11 in the second quarter. After Saskatchewan opened the game with a 7-0 run and led 14-9 after the first quarter, the Gaels held a 36-25 lead at half time.

Weltz, who was named Player of the Game for Queen's added four assists and two rebounds.

Laura Donovan (London, Ont.) also scored in double digits for the Gaels in the win, pouring in 10 points, while Sophie de Goede (Victoria, B.C.) added 12 rebounds.



"It's unbelievable," Weltz said. "To win that game, on our home court, it's a surreal feeling."

"Not at one point during that game did we lose our composure at all. We just stayed together throughout the whole game and I think we all knew that was our win."

Saskatchewan made a comeback in the third quarter, cutting the lead to one point heading into the fourth quarter, before the Gaels held on for the win.

"Unbelievably impressed with our team's composure," said Gaels Head Coach Claire Meadows. "We had belief all along and they made a pretty good push there to take the lead but we showed a lot of maturity and composure and finished a hard fought game."



The Gaels shot 36.7 per cent from the floor and 29.6 per cent from three-point range, compared to 36.5 per cent from the floor and 25 per cent from three-point range for the Huskies.

Carly Ahlstrom led the way for the Huskies in the losing effort, finishing with a game-high 29 points and eight rebounds. Ahlstrom was named the Huskies Player of the Game.

With the win, Queen's advanced to the Championship semifinal where they will take on the Winnipeg Wesmen Saturday at 6 p.m. The Huskies will play in the Consolation semifinal against the Laval Rouge et Or Friday at 8 p.m.