VANCOUVER – As two of the nation's best defences went to battle Friday night, the UBC Thunderbirds squeaked out a 64-53 win at home against the University of Calgary Dinos. The T-Birds' (7-0) perfect record was in jeopardy at halftime, scoring just 18 points at the break — their lowest since the first game of the season, when they had 30 — until a late fourth-quarter surge secured them the victory.
Fifth-year forward,
Jessica Clarke led the way for UBC, ending the game with a season-high 22 points and 11 rebounds, nine of which came from the offensive end.
"She plays hard, a lot of her rebounds were just effort and strength from playing her advantage," said UBC head coach, Isabel Ormond. "She just did what was needed, whatever that was, she was ready for it."
Buckets were hard to come by amidst the defensive showcase, but Clarke went to work early, managing eight of her team's 13 first-quarter points, as the blue and gold closed out the frame with a two-point advantage.
Clarke's play carried over into the second. As the Dinos (4-3) opened the scoring, Clarke replied with a bucket of her own, and a few plays later, followed up with a monster block in the paint.
However, the Dinos continuous pressure was eventually rewarded when the fourth-year big, Pollyanna Stories nailed the first three-pointer of the game, just over four minutes into the second, to give Calgary the lead. Momentum began to swing in the visitors' favour as the half closed with the Dinos leading 23-18.
The defensive masterclass continued for both sides after the break as Calgary guard, Myriam Kone kicked off the opening minutes of the third by rising up to swat away a jump shot, her second block of the game, to keep her team's one-point lead intact.
It wasn't long until UBC responded as
Sara Toneguzzi nailed a three-pointer to regain the lead. Kone and Clarke traded blows off the glass throughout the third as the score seesawed back-and-forth, until Stories hit another deep three to punctuate the end of the frame with a two-point lead for the Dinos at 37-35.
Momentum continued for Calgary which started the fourth on a 7-2 run leading to a timeout being called by Ormond. Coming out of the huddle, the T-Birds went to work, sinking shots and getting stops to go on an explosive 18-3 run in the next six-and-a-half minutes, before eventually walking away with the 64-53 win.
"Just to give a reminder to take a breath and do what we've been doing, fix some of the details, like going for rebounds with two hands, controlling the ball when it's in your possession, playing through some contact," said Ormond when asked about her message to her team during her fourth quarter timeout. "Calgary is a fast and physical team, so preparing ourselves more, but sometimes it's just about that breath, a reminder that 'you're okay, now go make a run of your own.'"
Kone finished atop the stat sheet for her Dinos, ending with 17 points, five assists, four steals and two blocks, while Stories added 14 points of her own, connecting on four three-pointers.
Olivia Weekes ended with 12 points and seven rebounds for UBC, while
Mona Berlitz fell one point shy of a double-double, closing out with 9 points and 12 rebounds.
The two Canada West rivals return to battle at War Memorial Gym Saturday afternoon for Courtside 2024. Tipoff for UBC's final home game ahead of the winter break is set for 4:00 p.m. Tickets are still available
HERE and the game will also be streamed live on
Canada West TV.
