Over the Edge *January 23rd 2013

WOMEN WIN ON STUDENT NIGHT

GEOFF SARGENT

SPORTS EDITOR

A rare Thursday home date for
Timberwolves basketball saw UNBC
host the University of Winnipeg,
where a smaller crowd — peaking
at only 452 for the mens game —
watched a thrilling 79-76 win by the
UNBC women.

The home date also doubled as Student
Appreciation Night; UNBC students
were allowed in at no cost and the fan
activities between quarters or games
were tailored towards students. The
Timberwolves’ corporate sponsors
provided prizes for the events: free
throws with an increasing pot of $250,
a wheelchair race, hula hoop contest,
and hearkening back to grade school,
a 15-player game of Bump, won by a
student somewhat unimpressed with
the level of competition. “Most of
[the other players] didn’t know how
to play Bump,” said Mo after the
victory. “You just had to focus on
making shots.”

While the women also won their
game, it provided no shortage of
adversity. The women started cold
and were down 6-0 before using an
early timeout, and struggles in the
second quarter led to a 12-point deficit
before the women narrowed the gap
to close the half down 43-36. After
halftime, more shots started falling,
but fouls accrued — Kady Dandenault
was the first to hit four fouls, on a
questionable call halfway through
the third quarter that saw her sub out
angrily. Soon after, the women tied
the game, and while they trailed 61-
58 at the end of the third quarter, the
women were back and fighting.

With the game tied 63-63 early in the
fourth, standout player Mercedes Van
Koughnett fell awkwardly diving for
a loose ball and was escorted to the
sideline, where her leg was worked
on by medical personnel. Less than

a minute later, forward Sarah Robin
received her fourth foul, and the bench
was stretched, with Dandenault on four
fouls in for Van Koughnett, and Jasprit
Nijjar seeing late floor time replacing
Robin. The team held close, though,
and with the game tied 70-70, Van
Koughnett’s leg was given clearance
and she returned to the action. From
there, the Timberwolves took over;
the closing minutes saw Emily Kaehn

66

grab consecutive offensive rebounds,
eventually setting up her own
basket for a 76-71 lead that seemed
insurmountable. To their credit,
Winnipeg fought back, silencing the
crowd with a basket, a turnover, and
a three-pointer to tie the game, but the
next possession saw Jennifer Bruce hit
a three of her own from the baseline,
which brought the crowd to its feet.
The Timberwolves survived a late
scare when two missed free throws

Jennifer Bruce eludes Winnipeg defenders

UL LE

gave Winnipeg a chance at a final
effort to send the game to overtime, but
the buzzer-beating three-point attempt
went harmlessly high and wide left off
the backboard, sealing the victory for
the Timberwolves.

UNBC head coach Loralyn Murdoch
was pleased with the team’s effort in
the second half, particularly when the
team was tested. “Jordyn Rabbit and
Jennifer Bruce were key,” she said

Winnipeg fought back, silencing the crowd with
a basket, a turnover, and a three-pointer to tie the

game

after the game. “They needed to show
leadership in the guard positions with
Mercedes out. Jasprit was also key in
just doing her job — staying calm and
playing hard.”

Thanks to a 20 point, 5 rebound
performance on top of the game
winning shot, Bruce was named player
of the game. “In the first half, we
weren’t playing like a team,” she said.
“We talked about it and then [Coach
Murdoch] came in and said it again.
We need all of us to be contributing.”
“It was important to point out that
we were turning the ball over way
too much in the first half and that
one player was not going to win or
lose the game,” Murdoch added. “We
are a veteran enough team that the
girls responded to that and saw some
success.”

UNBC added a third consecutive
win on Saturday, fighting back from
trailing seven points at halftime to
defeat Manitoba 83-72. Sarah Robin
led the Timberwolves with 24 points
and 9 rebounds. UNBC travels to
UFV and UVic before the next home
games against UBC February 8th.

Calld

oy

awest

standings
Men's Basketball

Pacific Division

12-2
9-5
7-7
6-9
5-9
5-9
3-11
2-13

#2 UBC

Victoria

#7 Fraser Valley
Thompson Rivers
UNBC

Trinity Western
Mount Royal
UBC-O

Prairie Division

12-2
11-4
10-4
10-5
7-/
7-/
5-9
3-11

#5 Alberta
Winnipeg
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Lethbridge
Calgary
Regina
Brandon

Women's Basketball

Pacific Division

11-3 #1 Fraser Valley
11-4 Thompson Rivers
10-4 #5 UBC

10-4 #9 Victoria

6-8 UNBC

5-9 Mount Royal
5-10 UBC-O

3-11 Trinity Western

Prairie Division

12-2

12-2
8-6
8-6
6-8
5-10
2-13
0-14

#2 Regina
Calgary
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Lethbridge
Winnipeg
Manitoba
Brandon