Griffins' fourth quarter rally - turning 28-point deficit into five - shows their promising potential
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
23 | 21 | 19 | 9 | 72 |
|
|
8 | 17 | 12 | 30 | 67 |
Team Stats
Regina
| Game Statistics | Regina | MacEwan University |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (27-59) | (28-62) |
| Field Goal % | 45.8% | 45.2% |
| Rebounds | 39 | 27 |
| Assists | 19 | 17 |
| Turnovers | 19 | 17 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 22 | 18 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 8 | 6 |
| Pts in the Paint | 32 | 24 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 8 | 3 |
| Bench Pts | 28 | 23 |
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – The Griffins' attempt to rally back from a deficit as much as 28 points on Saturday, started with Paige Massier's three-pointer 11 seconds into the fourth quarter.
When the run grew to 17-4, Regina put their starters back in.
It didn't make much of a difference as the rally kept rolling with the Griffins getting within five on Samantha Hickey's three-pointer with 21 seconds left.
While MacEwan ultimately ran out of time – losing 72-67 – the statement they made during a 30-9 run in the fourth quarter against the fourth-ranked team in the country, is one that will reverberate throughout the off-season.
Paige Massier kicks off the @MacEwanGriffins' rally bid in the fourth quarter by knocking down a sweet three!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/wvgxQG8Snb
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Basketball Team (@Griffins_WBB) February 7, 2026
"I couldn't be more proud of their effort," said Griffins head coach Katherine Adams. "There was a moment there where they had a choice to make. They could kind of roll over and be like 'oh well, we'll try again next year' or they could fight.
"Man, it was fun. They were playing inspired basketball, they were playing for each other and just competing, which I think is so promising looking forward. They're so hungry to get better, hungry to grow and hungry to build this program. I'm so proud of their efforts."
What a rally!@MacEwanGriffins get within five with 21 seconds left on Samantha Hickey's three-pointer after trailing by 26 entering the fourth quarter.
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Basketball Team (@Griffins_WBB) February 8, 2026
They ended up outscoring the @ReginaCougars 30-9 in the final 10 minutes.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/D1WKpdWGQq
With the result, Regina improves to 17-3 and will finish second in the Prairie Division. MacEwan finishes 0-20 and is looking ahead to next year.
"Obviously it's not the result to the season that we wanted to have," said Adams. "We have high expectations of ourselves. But I think we talk about exit philosophy and we talk about how we want to end. What momentum do we want to build going into the off-season because we know next year's going to be a different season for us?"
They certainly built that in the fourth quarter, which hopefully can lead to a strong off-season with a group that's returning almost completely intact. Of course, they won't have graduating senior Sarah Burnell, who bid farewell to her university career with eight points in her final game.
"It was pretty fun," said Burnell, who was joined on court by her family in a post-game Senior Day ceremony. "I had a great time. We were kind of down in the first half and then just the pull back of the fourth quarter. I just love playing in that energetic momentum and having a blast in the last game that I have."
Graduating senior Sarah Burnell hits a nice little jumper late in the second quarter!#GriffNation #SeniorDay pic.twitter.com/9VqhPeHxUi
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Basketball Team (@Griffins_WBB) February 7, 2026
Adams reflected one more time on the three years Burnell was with the program.
"I think what a great way for her to end her career," she said. "I thought she was excellent tonight. Her teammates always talk about how much they enjoy playing with her, how she has such a strong voice and that she makes it easy for them to do their job. She just played free today and she did that to a T.
"She was able to demonstrate what she brings to the table and who she is as a competitor. I'm so happy and proud she was able to end on a note like this."
Unity Obasuyi led the Griffins with 14 points, while both Hickey and Toni Gordon had 12.
Unity Obasuyi gets it to fall as the @MacEwanGriffins hang in there in the second quarter.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/VmWHgTeiYb
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Basketball Team (@Griffins_WBB) February 7, 2026
Regina was led by Izzi Fust with 16 points, while Cara Misskey had 11 and Eden Wells 10.
Ultimately, the Cougars were the better team early in the game, especially a run in the last half of the first quarter when they closed on a 15-2 run to open up a 23-8 lead.
"They capitalized a bit on our ball screen D and forced us to have to change that," said Adams. "I thought we did. But it took us a little bit to adapt to the switching, being in position and helping each other out. We eventually got there where we played with a little bit more urgency and lot more fight. We gave them too many easy possessions with 50-50 balls that could have gone either way that they ended up winning.
"I think we kind of put our foot down in the fourth quarter and took over those possessions and created momentum for ourselves in that way. It's just a little hard to do coming out of a 30-point deficit."
Great dish by Paige Massier to find Toni Gordon for an early bucket!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/YhUQAtLuPQ
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Basketball Team (@Griffins_WBB) February 7, 2026
At the end of the day, the Griffins showed in the fourth quarter, they have the potential to be a team to be reckoned with next season.
"I'm undeniably jealous of the future to come because I think that team is going to be a playoff team," said Burnell. "I wish I could be in a jersey for that, but I understand the foundation needs to be laid and I'm A-OK laying the foundation."
