VANCOUVER – After dropping a game on opening night, the UBC Thunderbirds (2-1) bounced back with a pair of commanding wins on the road and will look to carry that momentum into this weekend as they gear up for another two-game set at War Memorial Gymnasium.
Beginning a four-game homestand, the 'Birds will first battle against the UNBC Timberwolves (0-4) on Friday, November 13, before taking on the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack (1-1) on Saturday, November 14.
Neither of these opponents' records tells the full story, as both have faced solid competition to start the year, including tight losses to the now tenth-ranked team in all of U SPORTS, the UBC-O Heat. The 'Birds, however, ranked just ahead at the ninth spot, have most recently wrapped up a hard-fought, decisive victory against their Okanagan rival.
"They are two very different teams", began UBC head coach
Dave Taylor. "UNBC presents a challenge with guarding their offensive actions, and they will mix up their defences. TRU is a very strong, well-coached team. They have two elite offensive rebounders and will pack the key defensively. Scoring against them is a challenge, and you have to be prepared for a grind-it-out game."
After being outscored down the stretch in their narrow loss to the TWU Spartans to open the Canada West campaign, the 'Birds responded with two dominant fourth-quarter performances in their latest matchups.
Against the UFV Cascades, the 'Birds doubled their opponent's score in the fourth, outduelling them 20-10 in the final frame to seal an emphatic 29-point victory. Their most recent contest ended in a similar fashion, as the 'Birds took on the Heat and tallied 26 fourth-quarter points, while only allowing 22 throughout the entire second half to seal their second straight victory by 20-plus points.
As encouraging as that quick turnaround can be, coach Taylor doesn't want to see his squad take its collective foot off the gas as the season progresses.
"We had been struggling in the fourth quarter of games. In the last two games, we have focused on executing on offence and not settling for easy shots. That focus has paid off, but we must continue."
A pillar for the blue and gold to start the new campaign has been
Mona Berlitz. Returning to the lineup after missing all of last season due to injury, the fourth-year forward hasn't missed a beat. The game has orbited the German native through the first three games, stuffing the stat sheet with averages of 25.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and two steals per contest – earning BioSteel Player of the Week honours after a 30-point outing last weekend.
But not only that, despite a small sample size, it seems Berlitz has continued to develop her game from beyond the arc. In the trio of games to open the 2024-2025 season, Berlitz didn't attempt a three-pointer; at this point this year, however, she's knocked down three of her four attempts from deep, something coach Taylor believes only further bolsters her versatility.
"[Berlitz] is letting the game come to her and she's being very efficient. She's able to score in many different ways, and the three-point shooting is certainly part of that when available."
While the offence has been humming to close out these games, a large factor contributing to the heavy-handed wins has been on the defensive end, and a familiar face has been leading that charge.
With first-year point guard
Amanda Guss sidelined due to injury, the responsibility of running the offence has fallen back on the shoulders of
Cerys Merton. The fifth-year defensive anchor has been creating quite an impact in the backcourt since returning as main facilitator. In the win against the Cascades, the Port Coquitlam product dished out a career-high 11 assists, then followed that performance with another stellar outing against the Heat, matching her career-high with nine steals.
"We are fortunate to have Cerys, who has slid back into the PG spot she occupied last season. We rely on her for her defence and energy. She does a great job fighting through screens but also putting constant pressure on the ball. Her anticipation is what allows her to get steals."
The 'Birds will need that two-way intensity to continue as they look to extend their winning streak and protect home court this weekend. Action tips off Friday, November 13, at 5:30 p.m. against the UNBC Timberwolves, before wrapping up with another bout against the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack on Saturday, November 14, at 4:00 p.m. at War Memorial Gymnasium.
