Vancouver – Following the extended Canada West holiday break the UBC Thunderbirds women's basketball team is set to begin the 2019 portion of their schedule this weekend when they host the UBC Okanagan Heat for back to back contests.
It all gets started on Friday, January 4 with a 6:00 p.m. tipoff while the rematch takes place the following night Saturday, January 5 for a 5:00 p.m. start at historic War Memorial Gym.
It will mark the team's first regular season meeting in just under a year after the squads met in late January of 2018 when the 'Birds earned victories of 82-55 and 85-66 in Kelowna.
Last Action
The T-Birds (6-4) extended their winning streak to three consecutive games following back to back wins of 101-67 and 95-72 over the visiting MRU Cougars to conclude the 2018 portion of the schedule in early December.
The Heat (0-12) are in search of their first victory of the season and are coming off back to back home losses of 73-48 and 72-59 vs UFV Cascades ahead of the holiday break.
Players to Watch
Maddison Penn (#15, G) The fourth-year guard combined for 40 points and 23 rebounds en route to recording consecutive double doubles in helping the 'Birds back to back victories over MRU Cougars ahead of the holiday break. Penn sits in 10
th spot on the Canada West scoring leaders list averaging 17 points per game while sitting in second spot in CW rebounding averaging 10.7 per game.
Dina Strujic (#12, F) The second-year forward came off the bench and made her presence felt in recording a double double in contributing 11 points and 10 rebounds in the T-Birds last Canada West action of 2018, a 95-72 win over the MRU Cougars.
Coach's Take
"It was nice to head into the break winning three in a row but we've basically used December to take a look at our strengths and weakness and address some issues," said longtime T-Birds head coach
Deb Huband. "We're looking to get better in the areas that we need to have a more successful second half and our focus is on having the opportunity this weekend to get started and apply the things we've been working so hard on in our sessions through the break."
Huband also looked ahead to what she expects the Heat to bring this weekend.
"They've got a new interim head coach and some roster changes that still include three veteran players that lead them," added Huband. "They're a hard-working team, they put their best effort on the floor, they haven't won many games but they give themselves an opportunity to compete every time they play. Our focus however is on ourselves and some of the corrections we have to make in the game and the learning that's taken place over the last five weeks and to make sure we see that learning through our on court play."
