UNB Reds end ‘slump’ with berth in U Sports women’s basketball final

The University of New Brunswick Reds are headed to the U Sports women’s basketball championship final for the first time in nearly 50 years.

Kylee Speedy scored 16 points and ignited a decisive third-quarter run as UNB defeated the Calgary Dinos 70-66 in Saturday’s first semifinal at the Amphitheatre Desjardins.

The Fredericton-based Reds will play the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in Sunday’s final. The Huskies got past the Laval Rouge et Or 55-43 in the other semifinal.

Katie Butts led the Reds against the Dinos with 20 points and six rebounds, while Katie McAffee had 10 points and three rebounds.

Kourtney Oss, Christine Geraldo, Amelie Collin and Lilia Skumatova all scored 14 points for the Dinos, who trailed 35-31 at halftime.

Ella Murphy Wiebe led the Huskies with 26 points and 16 rebounds, while Maya Flindall and Tea DeMong each scored nine points.

Brinly Holt led the Rouge et Or with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Sabrine Khelifi had 12 points and five rebounds.

The Dinos will play the Rouge et Or for bronze on Sunday.

Baselines: The Carleton Ravens edged the Toronto Metropolitan Bold 60-58 in Saturday’s fifth-place game. Kyana-Jade Poulin led the Ravens with 19 points and nine rebounds.