VICTORIA – A Canada West record-setting night from the University of Victoria's Ashlyn Day powered the Vikes past the University of British Columbia, 67-54, Feb. 4 at CARSA Performance Gym.
 
A quiet opening to the evening, nearly one minute of play passed before a basket was scored. UBC would score the first five points of the game, taking an early 5-0 lead on a game-opening three-pointer by Hailey Counsell and layup from Kate Johnson.
 
The Vikes would see its first points from Calli McMillan, draining a three to make the score 5-3 in favour of the Thunderbirds with 7:45 to play.

UBC would continue to build its lead, going in front 13-7 with just under four minutes to play in the opening frame. However, the Vikes would go on the shut down the 'Birds for the final 3:30 of the first quarter, pulling the score even, 13-13 on a pair of McMillan free throws to close the first quarter.


 
Despite the Vikes scoring the first bucket out of the half, the Thunderbirds would keep pace. Back-to-back layups from Madison Legault, followed by two-straight jumpers from Johnson would give the 'Birds a 24-20 advantage.
 
From there, UVic would embark on a 5-0 run, completed with a Day three-point play to give the Vikes a 25-24 lead with just under four minutes to play in the half.
 
A pair of free throws and a three by Counsell with less than a minute to play put UBC back up by four, but its lead was cut to two on a pair of free throws by UVic's Abigail Becker to send the game into the halftime break with the Thunderbirds ahead, 29-27.
 
Undeterred by the halftime deficit, the Vikes took the lead on their first two possessions of the second half, going up, 30-29, on a three by Aleah Ashlee and layup from Day. Holding the Thunderbirds to just 10 points in the third, the Vikes finished on a 12-0 run to take a 48-39 lead after 30 minutes to play.
 
While Victoria attempted to continue extending its lead, UBC's Azalya Forstbauer kept the 'Birds in striking distance, scoring six-straight points via jumper, layup, and pair of free throws, keeping UBC within seven, 52-45.


 
A three from McMillan would put the Vikes back up by 10, 55-45, but would immediately be met with a three from Johnson and later free throw to cut the Vikes' lead to six, 55-49.
 
Not letting the Thunderbirds get any closer, the Vikes came away with a 67-54 win to open the weekend.
 
On the stat sheet, Day had a game-high 42 points, setting a new season single-game Canada West record. She added nine rebounds and four steals on the night. McMillan added a double-digit scoring performance of her own, tallying 14 points and adding four rebounds.
 
For the visiting side, Counsell and Johnson finished with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Legault finished with a team-high nine rebounds for UBC.
 
The Vikes and Thunderbirds will face off once more, rematching at CARSA Performance Gym tomorrow, Feb. 5. Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m.