The only thing standing in the way of the UNBC Timberwolves earning a weekend split against the Victoria Vikes was time.
Despite an 18-point performance from Maria Mongomo, the Timberwolves women’s basketball team fell to 0-2 after a 70-60 defeat at the Northern Sport Centre on Saturday.
Foul trouble continued to plague UNBC as Mongomo record three infractions in the game’s opening nine minutes allowing the Vikes to gain a 22-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Victoria led by as many as 17 in the game only to see the Timberwolves get within five late in the game but were unable to bridge the gap.
Cevanna Carlson and Madison Landry both went 0-2 from the free-throw line in the second and fourth quarters foiling any chance of a comeback.
Ashlyn Day led the way for the 2-0 Vikes with 26 points who were ranked eighth in the nation heading into opening weekend.
She told MyPGNow.com minimizing UNBC’s scoring chances was key.
“We were really trying to take away their strengths,”
“They played well yesterday, so we were trying to step it up defensively.”
Emma vanBruinessen recorded a double-double in her second game with the Timberwolves recording 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The fourth-year transfer from Alberta believes the team needs to show more mental toughness throughout the game.
“We played hard, and this is a tough loss, but we have to take a next play mentality we struggled defensively, and we need to focus on that the next few games.”
The Vikes defense proved to be the story, holding the T-Wolves to just under 37% from the field, on 21-for-57 shooting.
UNBC’s Alina Shakirova was held to 14 points after recording a game-high 36 on Friday.
In men’s action, Victoria rebounded nicely from a tough loss defeating UNBC 83-60.
The young rookie Fareed Shittu electrifies the crowd with the block early in the 2nd quarter! The 2nd half between @UNBCATHLETICS and @uvicvikes coming right up! pic.twitter.com/uE4vGZF2fQ
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) November 3, 2019
The Vikes, who looked snakebitten at times on Friday, were a lot more accurate with their shooting in the back half of the double-header converting at a rate of 47% (34-for-73).
Jason Scully was the top scorer once again for the 1-1 Vikes with 18 points.
After the game, Victoria forward Dominick Oliveri believes their size wore down the smaller and inexperienced T-Wolves.
“In the second half, we knew they’d be getting tired, and we knew we had the size advantage.”
“Our coach kept telling us to pound the ball inside, take our time, and finish. We knew we had to take it to them.”
Tyrell Laing led the way for UNBC with 16 points who admitted the team went through some growing pains.
“We can grow from this weekend. This was a learning weekend,”
“We had a result we wanted last night, and tonight we had some young guys play big minutes. We had to adjust. We didn’t come out with enough energy, so we need to learn from that.”
Spencer Ledoux netted 10 points in defeat for the Timberwolves who drop to 1-1.
Both UNBC teams are in Langley next weekend to play the Trinity Western Spartans while the Vikes have a bye.
Tyrell Laing dances his way for the difficult bucket during the first quarter! @UNBCBasketball trails 23-14 against the @uvicvikes as we begin the 2nd quarter. #gotwolves pic.twitter.com/yhO3S0Wo0v
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) November 3, 2019