SPARTANS BEST WOLFPACK IN CIS WOMENS BASKETBALL
For Immediate Release: November 22, 2008
Kamloops--"It was a special opportunity for us and we took advantage of it." The words of a very happy Trinity Western Spartan head coach Kerby Court after his squad pulled out a 68-64 victory over the home town Thompson Rivers University WolfPack in an afternoon CIS womens basketball tilt at the Tournament Capital Center.
"We knew this was going to be a tough game and we would have to battle all the way through, " says Court. "We knew that we needed to win it. Just the way the league works out, you need to get wins that other people in front of you will get. I don't mean that in a bad way, but often people think we are a win we can get."
The first half was filled with turnovers, bad passing and poor shot decisions by both teams. Trinity led 16-9 at the quarter point, and were up 29-20 at recesss. The Spartans shot a measly 33.3 per cent from field goal range. The WolfPack were at 28.1 per cent.
Both teams came out with a better effort in the second half, the WolfPack pulling to within four points a couple of times down the stretch run.
TRU coach Scott Reeves said the poor first half cost them when it was all said and done 'We got into a bad stretch right from the start. We can't shoot 28 per cent and expect to win."
"We didn't get to shoot a free throw the entire first half," he continued " When you talk about a four point game down the stretch, a couple of free throws really make a difference."
Trinity was led by 4 th year guard Laura Craig (Delta, BC). The 5'10" Craig wound up wih 17 points in 37 minutes of court time.
Lauren Doubroff (4th year, forward, Surrey, BC) had 17 points. Amanda Knauff (4 th year, forward, Maple Ridge, BC) and
Jordan Verhoeff (3rd yer, guard, Calgary, Alta) contributed 6 boards a piece.
For TRU, they were led by first year forward Lindsay Dekoff.
The rookie from Chilliwack had 20 points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes of work.
"She played very well." says Reeves. "I rewarded her for that. Sometimes we have players come in and perform inconsistantly. Thats the most minutes she's had. But with 20 points and 9 for 12 from the field is a pretty good percentage."
5 th year Guard Sarah Cameron (Langley, BC) added 13 points. The TRU co-captain made some key three pointers in the fourth quarter. Diane Schuetze (1st year, post, Vernon, BC) had 9 rebounds for the WolfPack who are now 2 and 6 on the year.
For Trinity Western,they move to 4 and 3 on the year. " In the overall context of our season, this was a critical game and we were lucky to come away with the win" said Court.
"I feel that there is parity in our division that didnt exist in the past. Our level of play has risen ths year while other teams don't have the superstar players they had in the past. Those teams are struggling as they try to jell in the beginning. If we can come up with some key important victories for us early, it'll build some momentum and confidence for us down the road. We know that four teams make it to the playoffs at the end of the season, and we want to be one of those teams." he added.
BEYOND THE ARC: The WolfPack played without rookie guard Beth McNeill. The native of North Vancouver, BC has a bad back. She should be back in action next weekend (Nov 21 and 22) when they host Regina and Brandon.
There was a minor curfuffle in the second half when the Spartans put first year forward Crystal Ballentyne on the floor (Manila, Phillipines, Faith Academy). She wasn't listed on the scoresheet.