SYDNEY, NS - The Pandas basketball program will still have a shot for a national medal in Sydney, but not of the colour they were looking for. Alberta will now play for a U SPORTS bronze medal after falling to the Queen's Gaels 72-62 in the 2023 national semifinal. 

Queen's made 48% of their three-point attempts in the win, led by a stellar performance from Laura Donavan, who finished with a game-high 21 points on 6/10 shooting from beyond the arc. Alberta managed to make just one of their 11 attempts, also shooting just 61% from the charity stripe. 

"They made shots and we didn't, it was as simple as that," said Pandas head coach Scott Edwards. "But credit to our team for not collapsing in the fourth quarter when they started to hit three's. They are such a gutty team. And now we will regroup and set our sights on the bronze game tomorrow."

Jenna Harpe, Emma Kary, and Claire Signatovich each had 15 points to lead the Pandas, with Signatovich also adding 10 rebounds. Harpe also added three blocks and two steals, with Kary — the Pandas lone fifth-year athlete — being named the Nike Team Player of the Game for Alberta. 

The Pandas will play the loser of the Carleton Ravens and Saint Mary's semifinal, as Alberta seeks their first national medal since 2009. 

The teams played a back-and-forth first half, with Alberta holding a slim 34-30 lead. Kary led the Pandas with seven points in the first half, making three of her four shots. 

The second half turned into a rain shower, as Queen's seemingly couldn't miss from deep. The Gaels made eight three's on just 16 attempts in the second half, outscoring Alberta 42-28. 

Despite the Queen's offence finding their rhythm, Alberta cut the Gaels lead to as few as three in the final three minutes, thanks to a handful of tough baskets from Kary and Signatovich. A dagger three from Donavan with 2:11 left all but sealed the win for the third-seeded Gaels.