VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (16-2) are looking to extend their 12-game winning streak and defend their perfect home record for one more weekend when they host their toughest visitor yet in the U SPORTS No.4-ranked Calgary Dinos (15-3) for each team's final regular season games. Tip-off at War Memorial Gym is set for 5:30 p.m. (PT) on Friday and 4:00 p.m. (PT) on Saturday.
Both the T-Birds and Dinos already know that they will be going to Abbotsford in two weeks for the Canada West playoff tournament hosting by the University of the Fraser Valley. Were the seeding of that competition based solely on record, second place UBC would have already secured a first round bye in the 12-team tournament and fourth place Calgary would be on the verge of doing so as well. As it is, the seeding will be based on RPI, a calculation combining winning percentage with other metrics to factor in strength of schedule and give greater value to road wins. RPI still has UBC in second in the conference and Calgary in third, with both squads seemingly on track to earn byes, as playing difficult opponents in one another for the teams' last two games will greatly boost the RPI of the winning side and provide a lesser penalty for the losing side from each matchup.
The red hot 'Birds are sitting at a perfect 7-0 record at home this season under first year head coach Isabel Ormond, marking a massive turnaround from the team's 3-7 home record last year, despite minimal changes to the roster. After struggling to score for much of last season, UBC now has a top five offence in the conference while maintaining its top five defence, with the team already proving its versatility by picking up both grind-it-out defensive wins and high-scoring shootout victories during its extended winning streak, which now spans 60% of the regular season and counting.
"We've talked about taking no short cuts and working through the small details to get big things done," commented Ormond. "We dealt with injuries, but everyone stayed consistent in their focus and work. Being ready to execute at their role, whatever that was."
With the games against Calgary marking the last time this version of the T-Birds will play in front of the home crowd at War Memorial Gym, the team is set to honour its two graduating seniors after the game on Saturday. Ormond talked about what
Hailey Counsell and
Emily Martindale have meant to the UBC women's basketball program.
"
Hailey Counsell has been with the program for six years, and is completing her final year of eligibility. She has been an important piece to the program over many changes. Though she has dealt with serious injuries, she always worked her way back into playing. In my year here I've seen her grow from being an offensive threat to a reliable defender and rebounder too. She even had her career-high in rebounds that we are ready for her to pass again!
Emily Martindale has been with the program for five years and is completing her fourth year of eligibility. She has also been with the program through many changes and has been a foundation in the offensive and defensive game plans. She has been able to hit career-highs in different marks, highlighted by some great assists in transition. We hope Emily returns for her fifth year of eligibility, but will be waiting on the Master's program admissions."
Counsell sits 14th in points scored in program history, while both she and Martindale are top 20 in career three-pointers for the Thunderbirds.
It will be no easy feat for UBC to finish the year a perfect 9-0 at home, as the No.4-ranked Calgary Dinos represent the first team in the U SPORT Top 10 to visit War Memorial this season. The Dinos like to shoot early and often, hoisting up easily the most field goal attempts in Canada West while also hitting the highest percentage of their threes, a deadly combination that has them leading the conference in scoring. The T-Birds and Dinos have not met in the regular season or playoffs since 2019 and UBC has not beaten Calgary in Canada West play since 2017.
"We are expecting very fast paced and competitive games with Calgary," said Ormond. "They have been a top contender in the province for many years and are always a hard team to play. They move the ball, pressure defensively, and push in transition well. This is great team for us to play. We are excited for this conference matchup leading into playoffs so we can keep building into the last weeks of the year."
Tickets for the final home games of the season are still available
here. Stream all of the action, live or on demand, on
Canada West TV.
