MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — First time in the playoffs, and now the first time in the semifinals.
Selena Sturmay and her Edmonton-based team are through to the final four at the P&H Masters, holding off Ottawa's Team Rachel Homan 7-5 in Saturday's women's quarterfinals (8 p.m. EST / 7 p.m. ABT).
Sturmay missed the playoffs during her first three appearances in the Grand Slam of Curling presented by Molson Canadian. Her team has been on a roll this season, winning three tour events, including the Autumn Gold Curling Classic to qualify for the P&H Masters.
Homan opened with the hammer but gave up a steal of two in the first when she came up short on a draw.
Sturmay stole another point in the fourth to hold a 5-1 lead, as Homan missed a run double attempt and gave up a steal.
The 20-time Grand Slam champ Homan came back with a single in the fifth and a steal of two in the sixth to close within a point. Homan stole another one in the seventh to tie it 5-5, as Sturmay's blank attempt sailed through the house untouched.
Still, that gave Sturmay the hammer for the final frame, and Homan couldn't get the shot rock to potentially steal the win in the eighth.
Sturmay will play Japan's Team Miku Nihira in the semifinals. Nihira eliminated top-seeded Team Eun-ji Gim of South Korea 7-5.
Sweden's Team Isabella Wranå and Japan's Team Ikue Kitazawa meet on the other side of the bracket.
Wranå eliminated Switzerland's Team Xenia Schwaller 7-4, and Kitazawa dispatched Switzerland's Team Alina Pätz 6-2.
