Host Laval stuns top-seeded TMU to reach Final 8 semifinal
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
19 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 54 |
|
|
12 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 57 |
Team Stats
| Game Statistics | #1 Toronto Metropolitan | #8 Laval |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (18-56) | (20-81) |
| Field Goal % | 32.1% | 24.7% |
| Rebounds | 43 | 43 |
| Assists | 10 | 9 |
| Turnovers | 27 | 18 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 19 | 22 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 9 | 5 |
| Pts in the Paint | 18 | 18 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 2 | 2 |
| Bench Pts | 8 | 9 |
Sabrine Khelifi knocked down a clutch three-pointer with 15 seconds remaining as the host Laval Rouge et Or rallied to defeat the top-seeded Toronto Metropolitan Bold 57-54 in the fourth quarterfinal of the 2026 Sun Life U SPORTS Women’s Final 8, presented by Michelob and Hilton Québec, on Thursday night at the Amphithéâtre Desjardins.
With the victory, the eighth-seeded Rouge et Or advance to Saturday night’s national semifinal, while Toronto Metropolitan drops into the consolation bracket and will play again Friday. This is the first time a top seed has fallen in the quarterfinals of the Women’s Final 8 since 2006, when UNB upset Saskatchewan 73-58 in Fredericton.
Khelifi, named Laval’s player of the game, delivered the decisive moment late in the fourth quarter. After Toronto Metropolitan tied the game at 54 with just under a minute remaining, Khelifi drained a three-pointer from the wing to restore Laval’s lead and ignite the home crowd.
The Bold had one final chance, but their last-second attempt from beyond the arc missed as Laval secured the upset.
Toronto Metropolitan controlled the early stages, building a 19-12 lead after the first quarter and taking a 31-24 advantage into halftime.
Laval slowly chipped away in the second half, closing the gap to three points heading into the fourth quarter before outscoring the Bold 17-11 in the final frame to complete the comeback.
Myriam Kone was named Toronto Metropolitan’s player of the game after recording a dominant performance on the glass. The forward finished with 12 points and a game-high 17 rebounds, including 14 defensive boards, while also adding an assist and heavy minutes for the Bold.
Laval relied on a balanced effort and aggressive defence, forcing 27 TMU turnovers while shooting 10-for-40 from three-point range in the victory.
The win sends Laval (20-7, 13-3 RSEQ) into the national semifinal on home court Saturday night as they continue their unlikely tournament run.
Toronto Metropolitan (30-5, 20-2 OUA), meanwhile, will look to regroup in Friday’s consolation round after seeing its championship hopes halted in dramatic fashion.
NIKE TEAM PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
- Laval: Sabrine Khelifi
- Toronto Metropolitan: Myriam Kone