University of Regina Cougars Women's Basketball Team Prepares for Playoff Run
The University of Regina Cougars women's basketball team is poised for a significant playoff push as they enter the postseason with momentum and home-court advantage. Under the guidance of interim head coach Michaela Kleisinger, the Cougars concluded their regular season with an impressive 17-3 record in Canada West conference play, securing a second-place finish in the Prairie division.
Quarterfinal Matchup Set for Saturday
Regina will host a quarterfinal game on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport. However, their opponent remains undetermined until Friday afternoon, when the Brandon Bobcats face the UBC Okanagan Heat in a play-in game at 2 p.m. The winner of that contest will advance to challenge the Cougars the following day.
"It's a good week just to kind of focus on the things that we need to get better at," said Kleisinger, noting that the team will adjust their routine due to the late opponent confirmation. "And then at this point, it's one game at a time. There's no point in looking forward until you win the next one. So that's kind of just been our mentality — the next game is always the most important."
Key Players and Community Support
The Cougars have been led this season by two standout fifth-year players: Jade Belmore and Cara Misskey. Both rank in the top 11 for points-per-game in the Canada West, and they have set program records. Belmore became Regina's all-time leading scorer in November, surpassing Cymone (Bouchard) Bernauer, while Misskey became the team's all-time assists leader.
Community support has been a cornerstone of the team's success, with Kleisinger highlighting the enthusiastic fan base. "I think we have the best crowd in the country," she stated. "I've played and coached in a lot of gyms across Canada and there aren't any other gyms where there's 2,200 to 2,500 people coming to watch a regular season game. I think playing at home is always an advantage. And I think specifically for us, it is an advantage just because the community shows out the way they do."
Season Highlights and Coaching Transition
Kleisinger took over as interim head coach after longtime coach Dave Taylor departed in July to lead the UBC Thunderbirds. In her first year at the helm, the Regina native guided the team to a strong performance, starting the season with a 15-0 streak before experiencing a loss to the Alberta Pandas. The Cougars then faced back-to-back defeats against the undefeated Saskatchewan Huskies but rebounded with two victories against MacEwan to close the regular season.
"We started off pretty hot," Kleisinger reflected. "And then we came up against obviously some very good teams and we lost three in a row." Despite this, the team's resilience has positioned them well for the playoffs, with a focus on securing wins in a single-elimination format.
As the Cougars await their quarterfinal opponent, they remain focused on their preparation and the support of their loyal fans, aiming to advance deeper into the postseason with determination and skill.
