Clara Gascoigne's defensive dominance on the court paces SMU's national medal chances

For one quarter of the semifinal game between Saint Mary's University (SMU) and the Carleton Ravens at the 2023 U Sports Women's Final 8 Basketball Tournament in Sydney, N.S., everything was going to plan for the Huskies.

Deadlocked at 13 with the No. 1 team in the nation, SMU Head Coach Scott Munro had his team going toe-to-toe in a defensive battle with the eventual champion Ravens, with Atlantic University Sport (AUS) defensive player of the year Clara Gascoigne at the forefront of that strategy.

However, the Dartmouth, N.S., native - who had been glued to Carleton star Kali Pocrnic — went down awkwardly early in the second quarter while tracking the lightning-quick guard across the court, injuring her ankle and ending her superlative season.

"We hadn't really played without [Gascoigne] for any stretch during the year, and it's the first time we had to do it," Munro said. "I think we were trying not to be deflated ... but obviously, when you take her out... everyone was a bit deflated … Both offensively and defensively … it limited us."

The Ravens went on to defeat the Huskies 65-46 before dispatching Queen's in the title game, with Pocrnic pouring in 37 points across the final two games to capture tournament MVP honours.

While the Huskies bowed out in the bronze-medal game to the University of Alberta �— whose forward Claire Signatovich edged out Gascoigne for national defensive player of the year honours — a trip back to the Final 8 may very well be on the table this year for the 6-2 Huskies, ranked as the top AUS team and No. 7 nationally.

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