THIS WEEK IN COUGAR ATHLETICS

Home Events
Women’s Basketball – vs. Winnipeg, Friday (6:15 p.m.) at CKHS
Men’s Hockey – vs. Mount Royal, Friday (7:00 p.m.) at The Co-operators Centre
Men’s Basketball – vs. Winnipeg, Friday (8:00 p.m.) at CKHS
Women’s Basketball – vs. Winnipeg, Saturday (5:00 p.m.) at CKHS
Men’s Basketball – vs. Winnipeg, Saturday (7:00 p.m.) at CKHS
Men’s Hockey – vs. Mount Royal, Saturday (7:00 p.m.) at The Co-operators Centre

Away Events
Women’s Volleyball – at Saskatchewan, Friday (6:15 p.m.) in Saskatoon, Sask.
Men’s Volleyball – at Saskatchewan, Friday (8:00 p.m.) in Saskatoon, Sask.
Women’s Hockey – at Mount Royal, Friday (8:00 p.m. MST) in Calgary, Alta.
Track & Field – at Golden Bear Open, Friday to Saturday in Edmonton, Alta.
Men’s Wrestling – at Dickinson State, Friday (8:00 p.m.) in Dickinson, N.D.
Men’s Wrestling – at Tyler Plummer Classic, Saturday in Dickinson, N.D.
Women’s Hockey – at Mount Royal, Saturday (3:00 p.m. MST) in Calgary, Alta.
Women’s Volleyball – at Saskatchewan, Saturday (6:15 p.m.) in Saskatoon, Sask.
Men’s Volleyball – at Saskatchewan, Saturday (8:00 p.m.) in Saskatoon, Sask.
Women’s Wrestling – at Guelph Open, Saturday in Guelph, Ont.

Men’s Hockey – The Cougars started a four-game homestand last weekend against UBC, losing 4-2 on Friday and suffering a 4-3 shootout loss on Saturday as their conference record moves to 9-10-1 on the season. Still just one point out of fourth place in the Canada West standings, the homestand continues this weekend with a pair of games against Mount Royal at The Co-operators Centre. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. on both nights.

Women’s Basketball (CIS Ranking: No. 5) – The Cougars (10-2) won their fifth and sixth consecutive Canada West games with a 99-39 win over Thompson Rivers on Thursday and an 88-56 victory over UBC Okanagan on Friday. Nicole Clarke was named the Canada West Third Star of the Week as the fifth-year guard was 14-for-30 from the field – including 54.5% from three-point land – and accumulated a total of 38 points over the two games. The Cougars are back at home this weekend for two games against Prairie Division rival Winnipeg (6-6).

Men’s Basketball – The second half of the Canada West schedule started with a home split for the Cougars, losing a 100-95 overtime decision to Thompson Rivers on Thursday before holding off UBC Okanagan for a 72-64 win the following night. The Cougars (3-9) are back in action at the CKHS this Friday and Saturday against Winnipeg, which will enter the weekend with a 7-5 conference record.

Women’s Hockey – The Cougars made their annual West Coast trip last weekend but lost to No. 5-ranked and Canada West-leading UBC twice, including in a shootout on Saturday. Now 10-7-3 on the season, the Cougars will play their third and fourth consecutive away games as they pay a visit to Mount Royal (3-14-3). The teams meet at 7 p.m. (MST) on Friday night before playing an afternoon game (3:00) on Saturday.

Women’s Volleyball – The Cougars got right back into the Canada West playoff picture with two big wins over the University of Alberta, winning in five sets on Saturday before sweeping the Pandas on Sunday to improve to 5-9 on the season. Saturday’s victory featured a huge comeback in the first set, as Alberta held a 19-6 lead before the Cougars stormed back to take it 25-23. Now just one win behind Alberta for seventh in the Canada West standings, the Cougars will travel to the University of Saskatchewan for two crucial matches against the Huskies (7-7).

Men’s Volleyball – After losing twice to No. 3-ranked Alberta last weekend, the Canada West schedule continues for the Cougars (0-14) this Friday and Saturday. They’ll travel to Saskatoon for a pair of games against the U of S, which comes into the weekend with a 5-9 mark. First serve is scheduled for 8 p.m. following the conclusion of the women’s match on both nights.

Women’s Wrestling (CIS Ranking: No. 6) – Kristine Longeau had another strong performance with a first-place finish at 82 kg to help the Cougars edge Saskatchewan for first place at the University of Regina Invitational on Saturday at the CKHS. Five other Cougars finished in second place, including Cass Schmidt (55 kg), Danielle Anderson (59 kg), Indhyra Linares (63 kg), Kayla Brodner (72 kg), and Emily Forrester (82 kg). The Cougars will send a partial team to compete in the Guelph Open on Saturday.

Men’s Wrestling (CIS Ranking: No. 8) – Gilbert Musonza (65 kg) and Jacob Luczak (82 kg) both won individual championships as the Cougars finished in first place in the overall standings on Saturday at the University of Regina Invitational. The team is back in action this weekend as they’ll make the trip south to Dickinson, N.D. to wrestle Dickinson State in a dual on Friday night before competing in the Tyler Plummer Classic on Saturday.

Track & Field – Tait Nystuen became the second Cougar to hit a CIS standard this season and the University of Regina swept all three duals on both the men’s and women’s sides at the Prairie Quad on Saturday in Saskatoon. Nystuen’s time of 1:19.64 in the 600-metre run not only guarantees him a berth in this year’s CIS Championships, but also breaks a school record that had been held by Darren Peters since 1999. The Cougars are back in action at the Golden Bear Open this weekend in Edmonton.

(Courtesy Braden Konschuh/U of R Athletics)