SASKATOON – Chosen first overall in the Canada West Coaches Pre-season poll, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women's basketball team will get their 2018-19 regular season schedule underway this weekend in Vancouver.

Beginning with a pair of games on the road against the UBC T-Birds on Oct. 26 at 7:00 p.m. and Oct. 27 at 6:00 p.m., the Huskies will be looking to have another strong season after finishing second in both the Canada West and at the U SPORTS National Championship last season.
 
Entering her 20th season at the helm of the Huskies, Lisa Thomaidis and her team will play their first home games of the year on Nov. 2 & 3 against the Fraser Valley Cascades on the newly refurbished Ron and Jane Graham Centre Court.
 
FULL CW SEASON PREVIEW
 
Huskies Season Preview
 
2018-19 CW preseason coaches poll: 1st
2017-18 CW regular season record: 17-3, 2nd
2017-18 post-season record: 6-4, lost to Regina in CW championship (2nd U SPORTS)
Head Coach: Lisa Thomaidis (20th season) / 247-147 (Career CW regular season record) 
 
Last CW championship / total CW championships: 2017 / 5
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: 2016 / 1 
 
2017-18 CW regular season ranks:

Offence: 82.2 PPG, 2nd
Defence: 58.6 PPG, 2nd  

2017-18 CW regular season leaders:

Points per game: 16.9 – Sabine Dukate, G
Assists per game: 4.2 – Libby Epoch, G
Rebounds per game: 6.9 – Summer Masikewich, F
Blocks per game: 0.9 – Megan Lindquist, F 

Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):

Ashley de Sousa Martins / F / 1 / Saskatoon, SK / U18 Canadian Ntl. Team
Carly Ahlstrom / G / 1 / Calgary, AB / U18 Canadian Ntl. Team  

Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):

Madeline Humbert / G / Saskatoon, SK / 5
Megan Lindquist / F / Saskatoon, SK / 5  

Key performer:

Summer Masikewich
Forward
3rd-year
Calgary, AB

Fresh off a trip to the Commonwealth Games, Summer Masikewich will once again be an integral component to the Huskies success in her third year of eligibility. 

A dominant presence in the paint, Masikewich finished last season averaging 16.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. The native of Calgary is at the forefront of a Huskies team that appears poised to once again be one of the premier programs in the nation after finishing second in both the Canada West and U SPORTS National Championships one year ago.