It came down to the wire but the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens basketball team booked their ticket to the gold medal game.
The Queens defeated the Briercrest College Clippers 66-63 in the semi-final of the 2023 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women’s Basketball Championship.
Not only did they win their 14th straight game, but Red Deer will play on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. mountain time in Lethbridge for a chance to win the gold medal.
They’ll play the winner of the second semi-final game between the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings or St. Mary’s University Lightning.
That’s game!!! @RDP_Athletics 66 @BriercrestWBB 63
— Leth Campus Media (@LethCampusMedia) March 4, 2023
Queens is going for gold tomorrow!!!#ACACWBB2023 pic.twitter.com/b4SdQFnxV9
The Queens also secured a spot in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s Basketball National Championship in Hamilton, Ont. on March 15-18. They’ll compete against the best teams across the country.
On Friday the Queens led by eight points at halftime and by 12 after the third quarter. Throughout the game, the Queens struggled shooting the ball finishing 25-for-87 on 28.7 per cent from the field.
However, the Clippers made a push in the fourth quarter piling on 21 points to the Queens’ 12 points.
In the dying minutes of the game, Red Deer made some timely stops on the defensive end and hit their free throws to secure the win.
WBB | RED DEER QUEENS ARE NATIONALS BOUND.
— ACAC (@ACAC_Sport) March 4, 2023
The @RDP_Athletics can book their tickets to Hamilton, ON. for the @CCAAsportsACSC WBB National Championship hosted by the @MoMountaineers March 15-18. #ACACsport | #CCAAWBB2023 pic.twitter.com/8wEe86UOX1
Queens Janai Hubert had an incredible game posting a double-double with a team-leading 16 points and 10 rebounds. Heena Sidhu also had a productive evening on the offensive end with 16 points and Lacombe’s Peighton Melton added 11 points and four rebounds.