Heat Topple T-Wolves

After two weeks fraught with losses and collapsing offence under pressure, the UBC O women’s basketball team rose to the challenge and claimed a 63-61 victory over the visiting UNBC Timberwolves. The win snaps a three game losing streak suffered by the women, and gives punctual confidence to the Heat after a woeful weekend in Langara the week before.

The Heat began their only match of the weekend on par with the Timberwolves, who are ranked 2^nd-in the BCCAA and 7^th-nationally. After a quick opening basket from the T-wolves, the Heat would pace the opposition point for point until the end of the first quarter. The score would be 18-16 in favour of UNBC. In fact, the close play from both teams would see little change as the first-half winded down, and the point spread unchanged with the half-time score 33-31. The third quarter is where the play became dynamic. Breaking from the static basket-for-basket exchange evident in the first half, the Timberwolves began to pour on the pressure to try and stifle the Heat. The Heat have had a tough time as of late responding to tough defensive pressure, and initially, it looked like UNBC had read the Heat like a book. UNBC rattled off 18 points in the third quarter, while UBC O struggled to find the net, missing shot after shot as frustration mounted. The Timberwolves would edge out a 12 point lead going into the 4^th-quarter.

Perhaps spurred on by their crumbling defeats in Langara the weekend previous, perhaps ready to make a statement, the Heat found a spark to begin the fourth quarter. After narrowing the point gap to within 3, Heat guard Jenna Kantz would make up for a foul by draining a trey on the resulting rebound. Now at parity, the Heat found themselves shifting gears as their shooting confidence returned. In a reversal of fortunes, it was now UNBC’s turn to reel against the pressure as tough zone defence from the Heat coupled with effective shooting put them to the ropes. Timely turnovers and a few big steals would spark both the Heat bench and the hometown crowd. Despite the game remaining close to the wire, the Heat would keep the T-wolves at arm’s length for the remainder of the quarter. The buzzer would sound and give the Heat their much deserved win.

Player of the Game Kim Whelpton was instrumental in the Heat’s success, providing a game-high 20 points while dishing out 6 assists and clutching an equal number of rebounds. Kantz followed in the scoring with 15 points, and Megan Kolman was 3^rd with 8 points in an effort that saw all but two Heat score.

Heat Head Coach Heather Semeniuk said the win came as huge relief for a team who has had trouble lately in playing effectively;

“This was such a big win for us; this is how we can play and should be playing,” said Semeniuk, who credited the Heat’s defence for the victory “We really strained them on offence with our zone coverage. We had to give up a few three-point shots to do it, but the pressure isn’t on individual players when we get the ball and that gives the ability to drive back up the court. The girls all stepped up today.”

The BCCAA 6^th-ranked Heat host the 7^th-place Douglas College Royals next weekend at home. With a 6 points difference buffering the Heat from losing out on the last playoff spot, the game will not be as crucial for the staying in the playoffs as much as it will be for gaining points to provide a better seed heading in.