WOLFPACK WOMEN TAKE LETHBRIDGE ON HALLOWEEN
For Immediate release: October 31,2008
Kamloops—It was just the thing you’d expect on Halloween. A trick and a treat.
The fans of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Women’s Basketball team certainly got that as their team came up with a hard fought 62-57 victory over the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns in Canada West Action.
“It wasn’t my intention,” said WolfPack head coach Scott Reeves afterwards, referring to a scrambly first half. “Sometimes the ball doesn’t go in the basket. We were taking good shots. Franz (first year forward Jess)had great looks for a foot away, which she normally makes….three in a row don’t go in, maybe it’s a confidence thing. We did dig ourselves a hole with our shooting percentage 7 for 33 in that half. But we really came out in the second.”
Reeves thought his club worked on their defence, limited Lethbridge’s offense in the third quarter en route to the victory. Lethbridge (now 1-2) led 28-20 at the half.
With Diane Schuetze (1st year, Post, Vernon, BC) not dressed, Kailey Calonna (2nd year, Forward, Invermere, BC) was pressed into service. Calonna, named the Kamloops Subway “Leader of the Pack” player of the game had five key blocks including one with 0.08 seconds left.
“It feels pretty good to have a better than 50 per cent record right now,” laughed the6’2” Calonna afterwards. “ We’ve come a long way and finally we got to see it tonite.”
When asked about her five block performance:. “ I like to feel safe when I go out to do blocks. It makes a big difference when you have someone to back you up when you think you have to do them.”
“She knows her role and does her very well,’ says Reeves “Her role is to play defence, block shots and get rebounds. She did that.”
Reeves also credited rookie Lindsay Dekoff (1st year, forward, Chilliwack, BC) who had 11 rebounds, with having a strong game. “Maybe it was because I started her,” stated Reeves “She had a little extra energy out there. She learned a lot from last weekend. She is a kid who is going to be a very, very important part of this program in the future.”
The WolfPack (now 2 and 1) were led on offense by Dekoff and Michelle Dimond (2nd year, forward, Port Moody, BC) both had 13 points. Becky Heniger (3rd year, Medicine Hat, Alta) and Sam Hornquist (1st year, Fernie, BC) had 13 points a piece for Lethbridge.
The Pronghorns move onto Abbotsford Saturday (Nov 1) to play the UFV Cascades. The WolfPack entertain the 7 th ranked team in the nation, the U of Calgary Dinos at the Tournament Capital Center. Game time Saturday is 5 pm.
RIM SHOTS: One of those in attendance at the game was Canada’s National Women’s Basketball Coach, Allison McNeill. She was here working with Reeves under the Basketball Canada mentorship program and evaluating players.