WOLFPACK WBB  LOSE 2ND STRAIGHT TO UBC
 
For immediate Release: January 4, 2009

Kamloops, BC:  If an entire 40 minute basketball game could be condensed to the final quarter, then the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women’s basketball team would have had a better result.  The youthful WolfPack,  with six first year players and four second year players  fell to the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds 81-61 at the Tournament Capital Center on Sunday (Jan 4).

In that fourth quarter, TRU outscored UBC  18-16.  But it was a ‘too little, too late’ scenario.  The WolfPack didn’t look focused early on, surrendering the ball countless times and showing a lack of commitment on defense as UBC ran to an early 9-0 lead. The T-Birds led 43-28 at the half.

“You always want to talk about the playoffs  but I have to bring things back into perspective,” said WolfPack head coach Scott Reeves . “ There are 11 kids in first and second year in our dressing room. There are 5 kids in the UBC dressing room with championship rings.  We aren’t even in the same calibre as they are. It was nice to have a good first half of the season (The Pack were 3 and 9) but the bottom line is we have to get better.  We can’t do that overnight.”

TRU (now 3 and 11)turned over the ball 30 times in the contest as compared to 19 for the T-Birds (now 5 and 8) on the season.

“We were the more fit team out there today,”stated UBC Coach Deb Huband .  “Having a game under our belt really helped us with our concentration out there.”

UBC was led by Lia St Pierre (1st year, guard, Moncton, NB) with 16 points, Leanne Evans(4 th year, post, Port Moody, BC) chipped in with 14 points.  “Leanne continues to lead by example out there.” Stated Huband.
TRU got 16 points from first year post Diane Schuetze (Vernon, BC).  Tracy Kocs (1st year, forward, Coquitam, BC) had 10 points. 

Kayla Forsyth (3rd year, forward, Vernon, BC) had eight points for TRU and garnered praise from Reeves. “She struggled  like crazy in the first half and I think it was a bit of a confidence thing,” he said.  “She has overcome that and she’s mentally getting tougher. Physicially she is one of our toughest kids. She shot the ball Ok and really rebounded well  (5).”
The WolfPack now prepare to visit University of the Fraser Valley next Saturday (Jan 10).  Next up for UBC is Trinity Western on Friday (Jan 9).