VANCOUVER – The No. 2 UBC Thunderbirds women's basketball team used a dominating first half defensive performance to cruise past the host Lethbridge Pronghorns by a score of 74-56 in Canada West regular season women's basketball action on Friday night.
Kris Young (2nd, North Vancouver, BC) scored 23 points and grabbed ten rebounds to lead UBC, while Kim Veldman topped the Lethbridge score sheet with 11 points.
“The first 20 minutes of the game was some of the best ball that we have played this season,” said UBC head coach
Deb Huband. “Our defensive intensity coupled with our offensive transition and execution was outstanding. We flowed well as a team.”
The Thunderbirds started the game on a 9-0 run and gave up just 20 points in the first two quarters to take a 42-20 halftime lead.
UBC held the Pronghorns to just 17.2 percent shooting from the field in the first half.
Offensively, the
Kris Young show began in earnest in the second quarter, with the score 26-11 for UBC.
Young hit a jump shot at 7:23 and then proceeded to score seven of Thunderbirds' next eight baskets.
Huband was simple in her assessment of Young's play.
“
Kris Young had one of the most dominant all round performances that I have witnessed,” said Huband.
The Pronghorns were much more competitive in the second half, winning the final 20 minutes, but were unable to make a significant dent in the UBC advantage.
Kristen Hughes (4th, North Vancouver, BC) added 13 points for UBC while
Zara Huntley brought down nine rebounds and chipped in with seven points.
UBC shot an impressive 47.5 percent from the field while making 14 of 16 foul shots.
The Thunderbirds improve to 4-1 on the year and will head to Calgary for a game against the Dinos on Saturday night.
Lethbridge drops to 2-5 and will host Victoria on Saturday.
- with files from Eoin Colquhoun (Lethbridge Sports Information Director)
