The UBC women’s basketball team beat the Trinity Western University Spartans 69–52 in their Saturday home opener at War Memorial Gym.
Off a win against the University of Fraser Valley Cascades on Thursday, the T-Birds had a quick turnaround to their game on Saturday but secured another win bringing them to 2–0 to start the season.
“The prep is tough because you're prepared for two different teams,” said UBC head coach Isabel Ormond. “Having the players and the staff lock in on who we're playing next [is key].”
New recruit Keira Daly had a strong performance for UBC, earning 21 points and 4 rebounds. Olivia Weekes also put up a good game with 13 points and 9 rebounds.
Weekes got the first points for UBC with a big three point jump shot from the top of the arc. TWU immediately responded with a layup by Gracie Corneau. UBC was hitting their threes well with a 50 per cent success rate in the first quarter, led by Cerys Merton, who was 2/2 from behind the arc.
Daly made a big offensive impact early on when she made a layup and was fouled for a potential three point play. She missed the free throw, but Jessica Clarke grabbed the offensive rebound. Clarke bounce-passed it back to Daly for another layup. In the act of shooting, Daly was fouled again and made both the free throws for four points in quick succession. By the end of the first quarter, it was a tight 18–17 for the ‘Birds.
The game continued to be close, with both teams trading points. Just before half, a Weekes layup and two Daly free throws gave the team a 35–30 lead.
Thunderbirds started the third quarter stronger on defence. Emily Martindale got a steal early leading to a jump shot made by Weekes. Mona Berlitz, who had a quiet first half, started to go off on offence with a reverse layup. A few possessions later, Berlitz drove as the shot clock ran down and missed the layup but Daly finished it off of the rebound.
UBC had great hustle on offence while pressuring TWU and holding them to only nine points in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, UBC looked their strongest all game. Daly had a phenomenal drive to the net, faked left to lose the defence and went right for the layup. Near the end of the game, Martindale scored a big three and UBC’s defence held strong to end the game with a 69–52 win.
Defence propelled the win for the T-Birds as they had a clear shift on defensive attitude between halves.
“I think in the first half, we were always looking for someone else to step up,” Ormond said. “[Defensive ownership] was our focus, because that's who we want to be and create from that.”
The Thunderbirds will play Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack this Friday and Saturday in Kamloops.
Share this article
