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Photo by Josh Kim
48
Winnipeg WINNIPEG 16-3
70
Winner Ryerson RYERSON 17-0
Winnipeg WINNIPEG
16-3
48
Final
70
Ryerson RYERSON
17-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Winnipeg WINNIPEG 10 16 14 8 48
Ryerson RYERSON 20 14 22 14 70

Game Recap: Basketball (W) | | Emile Riga

Women's basketball claim first national championship in team history

KINGSTON, Ont. - The Rams women's basketball team captured their first-ever U SPORTS National Championship on Sunday night, defeating the Winnipeg Wesmen in a dominant 70-48 win.

This title completes the perfect 21-0 season from the Rams, going undefeated in the regular season and winning both the OUA and U SPORTS Championship.
 
Rams forward Rachel Farwell scored a game-high of 17 points and guard Mikaela Dodig added 13 points and seven assists. Jama Bin-Edward also contributed an efficient 12 points, two steals, two blocks and another stellar defensive performance.

Dodig and Bin-Edward were awarded U SPORTS Final 8 tournament All-Stars, with Bin-Edward taking home tournament MVP.

"All throughout my five years here, this is the moment that I've always wanted," expressed Bin-Edward, discussing the win. "It's come to a perfect close to my career and I could not be any happier." 
 
The Rams began Sunday night's affair visibly dialled in, swarming the Wesmen on defence and shooting well to start the game, which was a strong sign for the blue and gold. 

With Farwell and Dodig each scoring eight points in the opening quarter, the Rams went up 20-10 going into the second quarter as their speed and shooting seemed to leave the Wesmen overwhelmed. 
 
Despite still not shooting well in the second quarter, the Wesmen did answer with strong team defence and a willingness to drive to the basket, putting the Rams in foul trouble and sinking six free throws late in the first half. 

Outscoring the Rams 16-14 in the second, the Wesmen brought it to 34-26 for the Rams at halftime. 

As they've done many times before this season, the Rams asserted their dominance in the third quarter, shooting 64% from the field and 50% from three. On the other end, the Rams prevented the Wesmen from scoring any easy buckets and did not allow a single three point shot made.

The Rams outscored the Wesmen 22-14 and extended their lead to 56-40 heading into the fourth.

It was only right that the final quarter of the Rams' historically strong defensive season saw them shut down a team that averaged 81 points per game in the regular season. Holding the Wesmen to 0-8 from three in the final quarter while making four of their own, the Rams ran away with the title, leaving no room for doubt or discomfort. 

"Our defence today was incredible and it fed our offence," said Rams head coach Carly Clarke after the win. "We kept our composure," she added, as her squad has proved to be the more composed team in every big moment throughout the campaign.

The Rams held their opponents to 50 points or less for the 11th time this season, a remarkable statistic considering they have been one of the OUA's top offensive teams as well. 
 
"We were so dialled in. Our team was so focused. We executed the game plan and they had to work for everything," voiced Clarke. 

U SPORTS Player of the Year and Wesmen centre Keylyn Filewich was held to just 10 points and tallied four turnovers, much thanks to the swarming defence the Rams displayed in Kingston. 

The Rams expressed their gratitude towards the Rams fan presence in Kingston on Sunday, as the atmosphere certainly favoured the Rams.

"It felt like we were back at the MAC," said Bin-Edward. "Even though we were in Kingston, it felt like Toronto."

Women's basketball have not only claimed their first-ever U SPORTS title in program history, but captured only the second-ever U SPORTS title in school history, with Rams women's volleyball winning the first in 2018.
 
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