VANCOUVER - The third-ranked UBC Thunderbirds return from a successful four-game road swing to take on the UBC Okanagan Heat in conference action for the first time in their short CIS history this weekend at War Memorial Gym.
Both games will be webcast on
CanadaWest.tv
GAME TIMES
Fri., Jan. 27 - UBC Okanagan at No. 3 UBC (6 p.m. at War Memorial Gym, Vancouver)
Sat., Jan. 28 - UBC Okanagan at No. 3 UBC (5 p.m. at War Memorial Gym, Vancouver)
No. 3 UBC Thunderbirds
2011-12 conference record: 10-2 (1st, Pacific Division)
2011-12 CIS ranking: 3
Last week: beat Manitoba 75-38 and Winnipeg 65-49
The T-Birds won all four road games convincingly over the past two weeks, and are rewarded with a weekend at home and a good chance to increase their lead in the Pacific Division against the newest kids on the CIS block.
After a smothering performance against Manitoba that saw
Kris Young,
Zara Huntley and
Kristen Hughes combine for 47 points, 11 assists and 18 rebounds, they came back the next night and made a very tough Winnipeg side look average at home, cruising to victory on the strength of Young's double double (10 points, 11 assists) and 18 points from Huntley.
The T-Birds have looked better and better on both sides of the ball as the season rolls along. They are second only to No. 1 Regina in scoring margin, and continue to give shooters nightmares with their conference-leading five blocks per game. A solid +4.42 turnover margin always helps to keep the win column full too.
Young has emerged as a real star in just her second year of CIS competition. She sits third in the conference with 16.8 points per game, and is a regular contributor in just about every important statistical category. She is essentially tied for the team rebound lead as one of three T-Birds averaging six rebounds per game, while also leading with 4.4 assists and 2.5 steals.
Point guard
Kristen Hughes has settled into her floor general role nicely in her first campaign in a T-Bird uniform. She chips in 10 points per game and is the team's only major three-point threat.
Huntley is second in team scoring with 13.8 points per game and is one of the three top rebounders on the team, along with
Alex Vieweg, who is scoring 12.8 per game with ruthless efficiency. Her .542 field goal percentage is second in the league among qualified players, while Young isn't far behind in fourth.
UBC Okanagan Heat
2011-12 conference record: 2-10 (6th, Pacific Division)
2011-12 CIS ranking: -
Last week: lost to Saskatchewan 92-55 and Alberta 84-40
The Heat have held their own offensively in their debut CIS season, but problems with their defence and rebounding have kept them from making too much noise this season, as they rank second-last in the conference in both rebounding margin and opponent shooting percentage.
Unsurprisngly for a first-year CIS team, its a very young roster for the Heat, which should help them become competitive in the conference with some experience under their belts.
With 12 red shirts, rookies and second-years on the team, the Heat rely heavily on seniors Roslyn Huber and Madison Kaneda right now. The pair are the only Heat players averaging double digits in scoring, combining for about 26 per game. Huber, a six-foot post player, is shooting an efficient .512 from the field, but hasn't been able to establish herself as a top rebounder. Nobody on the Heat roster pulls down more than five boards per game on average.
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