QUEBEC — Korissa Williams had a double-double as the Windsor Lancers opened the Canadian university women’s basketball championship with an emphatic 91-57 win over the Laval Rouge et Or on Thursday.
Williams finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists to lead Windsor to its 14th straight victory. The top-seeded Lancers are chasing a fifth straight national title.
Windsor will face Saskatchewan in semifinal action Saturday after the Huskies downed the Alberta Pandas 70-63.
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Lancers coach Chantal Vallee was happy with the result, but mostly with being past the quarter-finals.
"It feels good to play the first game and put it behind us," Vallee said. " Even if we have an experienced team it’s always good to get off to a good start.
"It was important to start the game strong, but also set the tone for the tournament," said Vallee. "Laval had a very dynamic, athletic and well-coached team. The difference may have been in the experience."
Raphaelle Cote had 18 points for Laval.
In other action, Gabriela Hebert scored 19 points and added 12 rebounds as the third-seeded McGill Martlets earned a 67-59 win over the Saint Mary’s Huskies.
McGill led by four points at the half and pulled away with a 25-point third quarter at Laval University.
Mariam Sylla chipped in with 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Martlets. McGill had a resounding 51-24 edge in total rebounds.
Angelina Carvery led the sixth-seeded Huskies with 21 points.
Kris Young had a school-record 40 points as the UBC Thunderbirds dispatched the Ryerson Rams 81-59 to set up a semifinal showdown with McGill.
"Kris is a complete player. She is a very good defender, rebounder, competitor, and scorer obviously," said Thunderbirds coach Deb Huband. "She is our fifth-year leader on and off the court.
"She is a three-time All-Canadian and there’s a reason for that, and you could see it on display in (Thursday’s) game."
Keneca Pingue-Giles had 20 points for Ryerson while Sofia Paska added 14 points.
Also on Thursday, Riley Humbert poured in a game-high 23 points as Saskatchewan downed Alberta.
Dalyce Emmerson and Laura Dally had 14 points a piece for the Huskies and Desarae Hogberg added eight points off the bench.
Saskia Van ginhoven led the Pandas with 16 points.
"Alberta is a tough team and we knew we were going to be in for a tough matchup today," said Huskies head coach Lisa Thomaidis. "They really pushed the tempo well. Thankfully Riley Humbert stepped up with her amazing perimeter shooting to put us in the lead and as always we kind of had different people contributing."