VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds shot efficiently from short and long range en route to a convincing 100-75 victory over the Victoria Vikes in the first of a home and home Legends Cup series Thursday night at War Memorial Gym.
Keylyn Filewich led the way for UBC with a double-double which included a game high 27 points and 11 rebounds, meanwhile
Jessica Hanson followed up with 19 points, nine of which came from behind the arc thanks to hitting three of her four, three-point attempts. The two other T-Birds to hit double digit scoring including Gabbrielle Laguerta and
Madison Legault with 10 points each. For UVic it was Kristy Gallagher with a team high 12 points and Ashlyn Day with 11 points while Marrisa Dheenshaw and Alea Ashlee added nine points each.
"This is one of our better team performances where we put a lot of the pieces together," said UBC head coach
Deb Huband after her squad's field goal shooting reached 52 percent on the night. "We're starting to get much more refined understanding of what we're trying to do both offensively and defensively. I think most importantly the girls came out hungry and gritty, they came out ready and willing to work for forty minutes."
The Thunderbirds jumped out to an early 11-4 lead on the strength of seven points from Hanson and another four from Filewich but UVic battled back to even things at 13-13 thanks to a Tana Pankratz three-pointer. UBC would pull away for a second time with help from Hanson hitting her second three-point attempt of the frame followed by
Maddison Penn completing a three-point play after being fouled in the paint. Hanson had a quarter high 10 points while Filewich poured in eight points for the T-Birds who led 25-17 after the opening period. Gallagher had a team high six points for UVic while Kennedy Cuspard chipped in with four.
The T-Birds improved their field goal shooting from all distances on the floor in extending their lead in the second quarter hitting 53 percent overall from the field and 67 percent from three-point land.
Hailey Counsell's three-pointer put the 'Birds up 31-19 before Hanson counted her third three-pointer in as many attempts to make it 44-32 and causing a Vikes timeout. Out of the break Aleah Ashlee responded with a three-pointer for UVic, part for three of her six points in the quarter, while Ashlyn Day's quarter high nine points kept the visitors within striking distance in trailing 50-37 at halftime.
The third frame saw UBC continue to be dangerous from inside and outside as
Gabrielle Laguerta's second three-pointer of the quarter gave the T-Birds a 69-48 advantage ahead of a UVic timeout. Leading the way for the T-Birds was Filewich thanks to her dominance down low in scoring a quarter high 13 points while Laguerta was close behind with her first 10 points of the evening en route to building a 79-56 lead after three quarters. Leading the way for the Vikes was Gallagher with six points and Marissa Dheensaw with four.
In the final period UVic's Hannah Walline stood out with a quarter high eight points which included two, three-pointers while for UBC it was
Emily Martindale picking up the first six points of her night in helping the blue and gold earn their ninth win in their last 10 outings.
The T-Birds and Vikes will renew the rivalry on Saturday night in Victoria with a 5:00 p.m. PT tip off.
