VICTORIA - Led by a 22-point effort from Lindsay DeGroot, the no. 3 Saskatchewan Huskies took the opening game of the Canada West playoff series with an 82-64 victory against the no. 5 UVic Vikes women's basketball team at McKinnon Gym.

BOXSCORE

DeGroot helped the Huskies take control of the best-of-three series with the fifth-year senior guard from Thelford, Ont. scoring a game-high 22 points on 10-15 shooting. Saskatchewan shot 57 percent from the floor and made nine three-pointers.

"[Saskatchewan] is a very good team and we didn't take care of what we needed to," said Vikes forward #Carmen Lapthorne#. "Their key player scored too many points for us to be able to win the game and we've got to come out harder."

Lapthorne shared the UVic scoring high with senior forward #Vanessa Forstbauer#, each totaling 14 points. Fortsbauer also managed eight rebounds, four assists, and never came off the court as the Vikes were saddled by injuries and their bench only went three deep.

Last year's CIS MVP, #Kayla Dykstra# logged plenty of minutes and contributed 13 points on 6-9 shooting. Dykstra completed the double-double with 12 rebounds.

Saskatchewan attacked the short-handed UVic squad early and often, using their pressure defence and up-tempo offence to wear down the Vikes. DeGroot scored the Huskies first three baskets of the game and Saskatchewan already led by double digits at the end of the opening quarter.

The Huskies bench out-scored the Vikes' 28-9. Reserve forward Alicia Wilson netted 13 points on 6-9 shooting. Guard Jill Humbert also finished with 13, shooting 5-6, and distributed five assists.

The Vikes will need a win tomorrow night in order to keep the playoff series and season alive. Tip-off is 7 p.m. at McKinnon Gym with a live broadcast available at www.govikesgo.com/broadcast. Game three, if necessary, would take place Saturday at 7 p.m.