Nova Scotia's Black to face Manitoba's Einarson in semifinal at Tournament of Hearts

Christina Black's deployment of a five-player rotation on her curling team, instead of the traditional four players and alternate, delivered Saturday in a playoff win at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

Black's Nova Scotia team reached Sunday's semifinal at the Canadian women's curling championship with an 8-7 win over Alberta's Kayla Skrlik in Thunder Bay, Ont.

Her second Jennifer Baxter abruptly leaving the game after the second end didn't rattle Black's Halifax foursome.

Marlee Powers, who rotated games with Baxter in Thunder Bay, Ont., and in the majority of other events this season, seamlessly stepped into the void with 83 per cent shooting accuracy.

With no warm-up, Powers executed a hit and roll behind cover and a draw around guard on her first shots of the third end.

"Oh my gosh, she was amazing," Black said. "It wasn't like it was weird to have her out there. She's been out there most of the games this year. She's been in half the games this week.

"So to have her just come off the bench, it's not like it changes any dynamic or chemistry or anything. We've already had that all built up, so it's good."

Not good was a visibly upset Baxter stepping out of the game.

"All we're going to say is there was a family situation, a family emergency, and for family privacy, that's all we're saying," said coach Stuart Maclean.

When asked if Baxter would play in Sunday's semifinal, MacLean replied "I don't think so. I don't know for sure."

Black, whose Halifax Curling Club foursome includes Jill Brothers at vice and Karlee Everist at lead, will face four-time Canadian champion Kerri Einarson of Manitoba in Sunday's semifinal.

Einarson lost 8-4 to defending champion Rachel Homan in Saturday's later Page playoff between the top