VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds settled for a split to start the conference season, dropping a hard-fought battle against CIS No. 1 Regina 77-66 at War Memorial Gym on Saturday.
The T-Birds looked ready to be taking on the nation's top team out of the gate, leading for almost the entire first half on the strength of solid defence that forced 15 Cougars turnovers before the break.
Zana Williams was a big part of that effort, grabbing four steals in the opening quarter.
But the visitors came storming out of the locker room to outscore UBC 20-11 in the third quarter and take the lead. Danielle Schmidt's basket early in the quarter put Regina up 40-39 for its first lead since a 2-0 advantage to start the game.
The 'Birds briefly edged back in front shortly after, but Schmidt then added another five points during a 10-0 Regina run that put the Cougars up for good.
"They turned it up a notch and really came at us in the second half, particularly in transition, and we had a few breakdowns that gave them the momentum," said UBC head coach
Deb Huband.
UBC point guard
Kristen Hughes nearly dragged her team back into the game single-handedly. She bounced back from a tough offensive opening half to score 16 straight points for her side in the late third and early fourth quarters. She got the 'Birds as close as two points behind the Cougars, but they couldn't quite find the equalizing shot.
"We went cold shooting toward the end," said Huband. "We had a few looks that could have made it a two-point game or a four-point game near the end that we weren't able to convert."
Hughes' run of consecutive UBC points ended with her team trailing 67-61 in the fourth.
Zara Huntley became the first T-Bird other than Hughes to score since the early third quarter with a free throw to make it a five-point game, but Schmidt responded with five straight for the Cougars to put the game out of reach.
"I thought Regina played really well," said Huband. "It was a game that gave us a chance to see where we really stand and I liked a lot of what I saw."
Huntley finished tied with Hughes for the team scoring lead with 16 points.
Alex Vieweg recorded a double double with 10 rebounds and 11 points.
Schmidt and Cougars point guard Michelle Clark tied for the game-high with 17 points.
The Cougars' turnover problems persisted throughout the second half as well, as they finished with 27 to UBC's 13, but their 53 per cent shooting from the field was enough to make up for the lack of care with the ball.
Regina improves to 3-0 on the season, and will return home next week for a two-game set against the also-undefeated Calgary Dinos.
The T-Birds fall to 1-1 and will also look forward to an important divisional series at home next week. They host the rival Trinity Western Spartans (2-2) at War Memorial Gym on Thursday, November 17 and Saturday, November 19.
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