Sturmay, Black advance as Page playoff brackets set for Scotties Tournament of Hearts

Christina Black loves her native Nova Scotia but she didn't want to go home just yet.

Black and Alberta's Selena Sturmay advanced to the 3/4 Page playoff of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts with wins Friday evening in qualifying games. Black downed Taylour Stevens 11-6 in an all-Nova Scotia matchup and Sturmay rolled past Manitoba's Beth Peterson 10-4.

"We just want to play as many games as possible so just let us keep playing," said Black outside the locker room at Paramount Fine Foods Centre. "I don't want to go home (Saturday). Now I don't have to."

Sturmay and Black will face each other in the national women's curling championship's Page 3/4 playoff Saturday afternoon. Canada's Kerri Einarson and Manitoba's Kaitlyn Lawes will meet in the Page 1/2 playoff that evening.

"We definitely know that we're in a position where we've got to just keep winning, but we're grateful to be here," said Sturmay. "We're grateful to have a chance to to represent Canada.

"We're just ready to leave it all out there."

The winner of Saturday's showdown between Einarson and Lawes goes straight to the tournament's final. The loser will play the winner of the Page 3/4 game between Sturmay and Black in Sunday's semifinal.

Black said her rink will have to stay level-headed against Sturmay's team.

"Stay calm, and, you know, it's a long game," said Black. "We've just gotta play like we can, and be patient.

"They're a really good team, so try to keep it close and be able to win it in the end."

Einarson beat Peterson 8-5 in a playoff qualifier Friday afternoon, while Lawes beat Black 8-6 on her final throw.

Einarson or Rachel Homan have been finalists at the Tournament of Hearts final each of the past nine years. Homan, the reigning national champion, is missing this year's event because she's representing Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Both of the evening draw games ended in handshakes.

Black opened up with four points in the first end and it seemed like Stevens was going to answer back with five in the second. However, Stevens missed her takeout attempt, instead ejecting one of her own rocks and leaving Black's closer to the button for a single.