U of Winnipeg comes out flat, falls 70-48 to Ryerson in U Sports women's basketball final

The University of Winnipeg Wesmen women's basketball team came up one win shy of capturing the program's first national championship in 27 years.

The top-seeded Ryerson University Rams completed a perfect season with a 70-48 victory over the No. 3 Wesmen in Sunday's U Sports title game in Kingston, Ont., to capture their first Bronze Baby.

"It feels great," said graduating Rams guard Kyia Giles of Winnipeg. "I'm happy to be part of this team that was able to make history."

It was the fifth national championship tournament appearance for the Rams, but just their second trip to the national final. They lost 85-71 to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies six years ago.

Ryerson, led by forward Rachel Farwell's 17 points and five rebounds, never trailed in the title game, and quickly jumped out to an 15-6 advantage midway through the opening quarter.

The Rams would finish the first quarter up 20-10 on the strength of four three-point field goals, compared to just one made shot from beyond the arc for the Wesmen. That was just the beginning of Ryerson's stellar three-point shooting and Winnipeg's woes from deep.

Ryerson finished the night making 14 three-point shots, while the Wesmen were unable to muster another triple after Kyanna Giles made one in the opening frame.

Kyanna and teammate Faith Hezekiah, who posted eight assists, both had 13 points as the Wesmen shot just 29.5 per cent from the floor. Ryerson made 40 per cent of its field goals.

"The Rams shot the lights out tonight, and we wanted it but all their shots were falling and it felt like they wanted it a bit more," Kyanna said.

The Wesmen cut the deficit to eight points a couple of times in the second quarter but continued strong shooting from the Rams, coupled with stifling defence, kept the Ontario University Athletics conference champions in front at halftime, 34-26.

Defensively, Ryerson keyed on national player of the year Keylyn Filewich, holding her to just four field-goal attempts in the opening half. She had six points on her way to finishing the game with 10 points on three-of-nine shooting, plus six rebounds.

Winnipeg was unable to inch closer to the Ryerson lead in the second half as the Rams pulled away late in the third quarter.

"We started a little flat and they started out hot, and with them starting hot they got their confidence going and that was it," Wesmen head coach Tanya McKay said. "We just kind of played catch up the rest of the game and just couldn't get that extra surge to give it one last kick."

The Rams reached the final after besting the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers 80-49 in quarter-final action Thursday. Ryerson topped the Brock University Badgers 64-56 in overtime in Saturday's semifinal round.

Winnipeg squeaked past the host Queen's University Gaels 80-78 in semifinal action Saturday after downing the Université Laval Rouge et Or 81-67 in quarter-final play Thursday.

But the Wesmen were unable to capture the program's fourth national championship banner, and the first since Winnipeg defeated the University of Manitoba Bisons 72-61 during the 1995 championship game in Thunder Bay, Ont. 

The Bisons and Wesmen combined to win five straight Canadian titles from 1993 to 1997, but neither has reached the pinnacle of the sport since — although Winnipeg was close to ending that drought Sunday.

"It was a long season. It was hard and I'm just proud of the girls. Winnipeg only having [mostly] Winnipeg girls on the team shows a lot about the talent we have and all the support we had back at home means a lot," Kyanna said, fighting back tears.

This year marked the first time since 2005 the Wesmen qualified for nationals. They dropped the title game 70-60 to Simon Fraser University in Winnipeg that year.

Despite falling short of the ultimate prize, McKay says her players can hold their heads high after silver medals in the Canada West conference playoffs and at nationals.

"It's great for the kids to be motivated to get back here again," she said. "It's great for the program and I truly hope it's motivation for the future."