After a disappointing exit from the Canadian Interuniversity Sport women's basketball championships last season, the No. 1 Simon Fraser Clan got their redemption Sunday.

The Clan overcame the host No. 2 Regina Cougars 68-62 to win their fourth national championship since 2002.

Last year the Clan entered the tournament ranked first but lost in the opening round to Laval 71-68. Now those demons have now been exorcised.

"Since that moment our entire lives have been revolving around getting back to this spot and being able to redeem ourselves," said tournament all-star and Simon Fraser forward Robyn Buna. "It feels amazing. I can't even describe it."

The Clan finish the season with only one loss -- a 57-56 defeat to Victoria in October -- and won their three games at the national championships by an average of 23 points.

"It's been the theme of the year," said SFU head coach Bruce Langford. "Last year there was a lot of disappointment. We were focused more than ever before on winning."

Buna led the Clan with 20 points while tournament all-star Chelsea Cassano was the high scorer for the Cougars with 16.

Tournament most valuable player Matteke Hutzler added 11 points and eight rebounds for the Clan. Simon Fraser's Lisa Tindle also scored 11 while Kelsey Horsting notched 10.

Two free throws by the Cougars' Carmen Stewart brought the score to 61-57 with a 1:51 remaining in the game. However, on their ensuing possession, Tindle knocked down a three pointer to make it 64-57, effectively ending the comeback bid.

"(We are) a veteran team," said Regina head coach Dave Taylor. "For two years we haven't quit. It was the last game for six of them and they left everything on the floor."

Regina led throughout the first half. After Buna's three pointer with five seconds remaining in third quarter gave the Clan a 43-41 advantage, Regina never regained the lead.

"We struggled in the first half hitting out shots," said Buna. "We just knew that in the second half we needed to come back and keep shooting."

The Cougars were backed by 2,440 fans in their bid to become the first team to win the national championships on homecourt. They too were looking to overcome a disappointment from last season -- they had lost the national title to UBC 67-46 in Saskatoon in 2008.

"Obviously we're very upset," said Taylor. "We had to play really well, close to perfect and we didn't. We had some problems."

This was the third encounter between the two teams this season. The Clan won both of the earlier contests 80-63 and 68-57.

Aside from Buna, Hutzler and Cassano, Regina's Jessica Lynch and Windsor's Iva Peklova were named to the tournament all-star team.

Regina earned a berth in the finals with an 86-68 win over No. 3 Windsor Saturday night while Simon Fraser had their way with No. 4 Alberta 78-62 in the other semi.

In Sunday's bronze medal match, Alberta topped Windsor 64-62. In the consolation final the No. 7 Cape Breton Capers beat the No. 5 Laval Rouge et or 67-56.