VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds women's basketball team opened up 2013 just as they left off in 2012, easily defeating the Manitoba Bisons 68-53 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre in Winnipeg.
BOX SCORE
Leigh Stansfield (Victoria, BC) matched the career high 23 points that she set just two weeks ago in the final game of the Ranger Inspection Holiday Hoops Tournament. She shot 10 of 15 from the floor and also grabbed seven rebounds tonight in just 25 minutes of play.
Kris Young (North Vancouver, BC) followed up with a double-double of 11 points and 10 boards, and also added five steals.
Second-year forward Brittany Koop (Winnipeg, MB) led the Bisons with 19 points on 64% shooting, including three of four from beyond the arc. Teammate Sheree Carmon-Galdamez (Winnipeg, MB) had an impressive ten assists to go along with 14 points for a double-double.
Despite shooting just 33 percent in the first half, including a dismal one of nine from three-point range, the Thunderbirds went into the break with a commanding 12 point lead. They held the Bisons to under 30 percent from the floor and dominated on the boards, pulling down twice as many rebounds. The Bisons managed just a lone three pointer in the second quarter, and Carmona-Galdamez was their lone bright spot. She had 11 points in the first quarter until she committed her second foul with six minutes to go in the half and was resigned to the bench.
"Our defensive intensity and attention to detail was terrific for three quarters," said UBC head coach
Deb Huband. "Our offensive timing and execution was not what it needed to be today. We had difficulty finishing and our shooters were cold; however, as we proved this evening, this is the type of game where you can still be successful on the strength of your defence."
The relentless Thunderbirds got their offence going in the third quarter, outscoring the Bisons 26-12 and continuing to open up a huge gap while using their half-court trap defense.
The Bisons came alive in the final quarter, but by that time the game was too far out of their reach. They did make it look somewhat closer than it really was though, and received boisterous applause from their home crowd for their efforts. Koop was on fire, hitting four jumpers and two free throws in the fourth as her team outscored the Thunderbirds 23-12 in the final ten minutes.
Tonight's win improves UBC's record to 8-3 and their win streak to four games, or seven if you count their non-conference Holiday Hoops Tournament victories. They'll be heading across town to face the Winnipeg Wesmen tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. Pacific. After shooting just 37 percent from the floor tonight, UBC will need a more consistent offensive effort against the Wesmen, who are 5-7 so far this season and should provide a bit more of a challenge.
The Bisons fall to 2-10 and will look for the first victory in two months tomorrow night against the visiting Victoria Vikes.
-30-
