VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds (10-4) will look to ride the momentum of a historic weekend into their next matchup against the longtime rival University of Victoria Vikes (7-5) for a Legends Cup home-and-home battle. Game one of the rivalry series tips off on Thursday, January 16, at 6:00 p.m. PT inside War Memorial Gym, with game two across the Strait of Georgia in Victoria on Saturday, January 18, at 5:00 p.m. PT.
The T-Birds were victorious over the Vikes in a triple overtime thriller last season that produced a number of record breaking performances - including the new UBC women's basketball single-game rebounding record by Keylyn Filewich after collecting 27 boards. UBC's 113-108 home win also eclipsed the team's single-game points record, but the 'Birds were unable to get it done on the road and finished with a Legends Cup series split with Victoria in their last head-to-head matchup.
UBC remains fourth in the Canada West standings this season, while Filewich continues to top the conference with the most rebounds per game (10.6), highest field goal percentage (58.2), most points (265) and most blocks (17). Although Filewich dominates the paint night in and night out, her team has also demonstrated their ability to share the ball - putting up a Canada West-leading 18.1 assists per game. Thunderbird guards Jessica Hanson and Kate Johnson both average over four assists per game to lead the team and catalyze the offense.
The Vikes have the eighth-best record in the conference and lead the Canada West with 24.7 free throw attempts per game, but also average the second-most turnovers per game with 15.8.
Last Action
The T-Birds swept the Trinity Western Spartans (3-9) at War Memorial Gym last weekend to vault head coach Deb Huband into the record books as the all-time winningest coach in Canada West regular season history with 338 victories to her name. Game one of the series saw Huband tie the conference record with a 95-58 win, before a commanding 100-57 victory sealed the deal for the legendary UBC coach. It was by far the 'Birds most dominant series of the season, as the team shot 50 percent from the field in both outings and had six players put up double digits in scoring (Hanson, Filewich, Hailey Counsell, Johnson, Maddison Penn, Tanis Metcalfe).
Victoria has lost three straight - most recently a pair of road tests against the Saskatchewan Huskies (12-0).
Coach's Take
"We always have competitive, hard fought battles with UVic and we expect no different this week," said coach Huband. "They are a veteran team with more versatility this season and have been playing good basketball throughout the season."
Huband knows her team can build off of their impressive performances against the Spartans.
"We had a strong outing last weekend vs TWU which allowed us to take a step forward in consistency, team play and chemistry," said Huband. "This weekend will be another opportunity to refine our on court execution against a tough opponent. With only six games remaining in the Canada West league season, this is the time to pay attention to the details that promote excellence."
