VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds women's basketball team (6-8) will look to rebound against the Victoria Vikes (5-9) this weekend, as they head out to the provincial capital to take on their long-time foes in a two-game series.
 
The two sides will tip off at 6 p.m. (PT) on Friday, January 29, followed by the rematch at 5 p.m. (PT) on Saturday, January 30. Both games will be played at the CARSA Performance Gym.
 
The T-Birds are fresh off of a two-game sweep at the hands of the Regina Cougars (11-1), though it wasn't for a lack of individual effort. Friday night saw the 'Birds drop a heartbreaking 71-69 decision on a last-second Cougars basket, nullifying an absolutely brilliant fourth quarter from fifth-year UBC guard Diana Lee. The North Vancouver product shot out the lights in the final frame, going 5-of-6 from the field, including 2-of-3 from distance, for 13 points.
 
Kara Spotton (Fort Collins, Colo.) showed off her versatility in Saturday's game, a 66-61 upending for the visitors from Saskatchewan. In the loss, Spotton went off for 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and three steals in 28 minutes of play.
 
The Vikes, too, are trying to snap a losing streak this weekend, but unlike the Thunderbirds, Victoria's stretches back four games, as they haven't won a game since an 86-75 decision over the Manitoba Bisons (1-13) back on January 9.
 
Even with their lacklustre record in recent weeks, UBC head coach Deb Huband remains entirely aware of the talent possessed by the Vikes.
 
"They're led by a couple of fourth-year players who are quite dynamic in [forward Jenna] Bugiardini and [forward Nicole] Karstein. They've got a couple of sharp-shooting perimiters players like [guard Anna] Giannattasio. They're a fairly young team, and we are as well, so it should be a good matchup of our youth and our veterans."
 
In particular, Bugiardini (15.4 points per game, 9.7 rebounds per game) and Karstein (12.7 points per game, 6.3 assists per game) should prove a formidable force inside, as both are averaging well over a 12-6 stat line in points and rebounds, a feat that not even Spotton (18.0 PPG, 5.9 APG) can claim on the Thunderbirds, though she is barely under the mark.
 
The motivation, even beyond the inherent rivalry with Victoria, should be there in spades for Huband's squad, as the 'Birds are now hitting the home stretch as they look to earn a Canada West playoff berth.
 
"It's been a while since we've played them, and we've always had very competitive matchups against Victoria, so we expect the same there. We have six games in conference left, so we're getting to that point in the season where every game matters with regards to future playoff positioning, and we expect this weekend to be highly contested. "