On Saturday, the UBC women’s basketball team fell to the University of Calgary Dinos, losing 59–55 in a close Courtside matchup. The crowd was electric but the Thunderbirds came up just short with a nail-biting end.
It was a battle, just like Friday night where UBC beat Calgary 64–53. Mona Berlitz led the Saturday offense for UBC and earned 13 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Olivia Weekes came close to a double double earning 12 points, 9 rebounds and 1 steal. Even though they lost, the T-Birds put up a hard fight and out-rebounded the Dinos 44–26.
“We had them on the ropes. I think we had them where we wanted,” said head coach Isabel Ormond after the game. “It didn't go our way today, but pretty excited for what we can take from that, both as learning moments to work on and experience that you just can't replicate.”
In the first quarter, Calgary came out fast playing a high pressure game, but UBC looked ready to battle and matched their intensity. Amélie Collin started off the scoring for the Dinos, muscling her way in for a layup right away. The Thunderbirds responded and they continued passing off the lead back and forth with Calgary.
In the fifth minute, UBC transfer Jessica Clarke grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled going back up for a layup; she made the free throw for a phenomenal three point play. In the ninth minute, Stella LaGrange came up for another big offensive play as she sunk a three pointer to tie the score at 14–14. A minute later, Dino Myriam Kone responded with a three pointer of her own to pull Calgary ahead. UBC got one more layup to end the first quarter at 17–16.
The high intensity play continued into the second quarter where Calgary’s already strong defence stepped it up and they started off on a 5–0 scoring run. In the 13th minute, T-Bird Sara Toneguzzi stole the ball and moved it up the court. In a quick turnaround, Toneguzzi passed it off to Cerys Merton to make a layup for a great T-Bird play and their first points of the quarter.
Further into the second quarter, Berlitz made explosive drives to the net and narrowed the Dinos’ lead to only six points. However, UBC continued to struggle as Calgary’s defence forced a couple of shot violations. Nearing the end of the second quarter, Kone passed to Collin outside the arc and she made the three to earn a commanding 10 point lead for the Dinos. With little time left, the Thunderbirds couldn’t catch up and ended the half down 36–26.
To start off the third quarter, Weekes made a jump shot, and right after Calgary responded with a layup. In the 25th minute Weekes scored again — this time she drove to the net for a layup and brought the score to 40–35. Kone responded with a jumper, but a minute later Berlitz made a three to have the T-Birds trailing by six points.
Unfortunately for UBC, the Dinos went on to score six more points and shut down any other chances for the Thunderbirds. Calgary increased their lead to 12 points and ended the third quarter 50–38.
When it looked like the game was over for UBC, they came out in the fourth quarter with a whole new energy and showed they were not going to give up. In the 31st minute, Toneguzzi was fouled going for a layup and made both her free throws to start off some offence for the T-Birds. UBC went on a 6–0 scoring run in the next few minutes, holding off Calgary with strong defence and hustle to grab rebounds.
The Thunderbirds still trailed, but in the last minute Weekes grabbed an offensive rebound and made a layup to bring the score to 56–53, the closest it had been since the first quarter. From there, it was a nail biting last few seconds with the T-Birds and the Dinos trading buckets. It was close but UBC came up short as Calgary held on for the 59–55 win.
“You know you're going to play good teams. They're going to score, sometimes they're going to beat you. And I think what we work on is just we are training for playoffs and nationals, so [focusing on] never giving up. And I think you saw that from our team today,” said Ormond.
The Thunderbirds will head to Kelowna to play the UBCO Heat on Friday, November 29 in their last game before the new year.
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