VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds continued their undefeated preseason run with an impressive 107-71 win over the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Saturday night at War Memorial Gym.
Like they did on Friday against UBC Okanagan, the Thunderbirds got a quick start out of the gate on Saturday. This time, however, there was no second half let-down from the T-Birds, who kept the pedal to the metal all night to earn the decisive victory.
"We had to take a look at ourselves and decide if we were doing what we're being asked to do and playing to our potential, and the girls responded really well today," said UBC head coach
Deb Huband. "We challenged them on a few things and I think they took ownership and it was a totally different team effort."
The T-Birds got huge contributions from veteran forwards
Alex Vieweg and
Zara Huntley at both ends of the floor. Vieweg recorded a double double with a game-high 11 rebounds and 17 points to go along with four assists and four steals, while Huntley led all scorers with 31 points and chipped in two blocks and four rebounds defensively.
Reckless fouling got the T-Birds into some trouble on Friday, but Saturday was a very different story. The 'Birds didn't commit a single foul in the first quarter while outscoring the visitors 24-7, and finished the night with just 13 fouls compared to Lakehead's 36.
"We're very capable of guarding and putting a lot of pressure on teams, but it has to be smart pressure," said Huband. "Yesterday we weren't smart with it but today we were, and our angles and rotations were what we've been working hard to make them be."
UBC got 38 points from the free throw line, with Vieweg posting a 13-for-16 line from the charity stripe.
Kris Young played a very strong two-way game, scoring 13 points on efficient shooting while adding six assist and recording a game-high five steals.
Leigh Stansfield also added 13 points, and
Kristen Hughes chipped in 12.
Carolyn Fragale led the Thunderwolves with 19 points. Kelsey Bardsley and Ayse Kalkan both had 11.
The T-Birds are now 6-0 this preseason, and have just one more exhibition match to look forward to before the conference season begins. UBC will be at Western Washington on November 6 before beginning conference play at home against Brandon on November 11.
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