The Matchup
Fresh off a gutsy bounce-back performance in Calgary last weekend the UBC Thunderbirds (3-1) are back on the road, this time in Prince George for a doubleheader against the UNBC Timberwolves (0-4) Friday and Saturday, November 10 and 11.
It's the back half of the longest road swing of the season for the 'Birds who face a familiar foe in the Timberwolves. The two Canada West rivals last met in last season's play-in series where UBC earned a pair of convincing wins to advance to the conference quarter-finals.
UBC also won both regular season meetings against UNBC at War Memorial Gym. The 'Birds haven't been to Prince George since February of 2013. In eight all-time regular season and playoff matchups with the Timberwolves, the T-Birds have never lost.
Tip-off Friday is 6:00 p.m. PT with Saturday's rematch set for 5:00 p.m. PT, both at the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre.
Last Action
After a disappointing loss in Calgary last Friday, the T-Birds rebounded with a 62-59 win over the previously undefeated Dinos to earn the weekend split on their first road trip of the season.
The Timberwolves dropped both games last weekend against the Trinity Western Spartans in Langley. UNBC fell 91-65 Friday night and held in for a closer battle Saturday in a 61-54 loss.
By the Numbers
45.3 – UBC's average number of total rebounds, the second highest total in the conference. The 'Birds' 33 average defensive boards is tops in the Canada West.
15.75 – The average margin of victory for the Thunderbirds over the Timberwolves in their eight previous regular season and playoff matchups.
Players to Watch
Maddison Penn (#15, G) – The third-year guard put up 35 points and 12 rebounds in last Saturday's win over the Dinos. Penn leads the 'Birds with 18.8 points per game which is good for third in the Canada West. Her 75 total points is also second highest in the conference.
Keylyn Filewich (#9, F) – The second-year forward is right behind Penn in points per game with 17.8, the sixth highest in the conference. The Winnipeg native earned her second double-double of the season last Saturday with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Coach's Take
Last Saturday's bounce back win in Calgary showed good resilience for a young team and something UBC head coach
Deb Huband hopes will carry over.
"It shows a lot of character to bounce back, it was pretty humbling on Friday night to play as badly as we did, I think that can rattle your confidence and be an energy depleter," said Huband. "We are a young group and we are learning, and the application of what we're learning is really important so it was nice to see."
Despite the Timberwolves starting the season 0-4, they possess some dangerous offensive weapons with the likes of Madison Landry and fourth-year forward Vasiliki Louka.
"Our defensive strategies and game planning is really important but we also want to take our game and impose it on them and make sure that we're five people on the floor working hard to play with tempo and getting the proper spacing and reads and then execute our offence effectively from there," said Huband. "Rebounding is going to be key. They're a bigger team with offensive rebounding being a significant piece of what they do."
