A win was never really expected. And, against one of the top teams in Canada, it didn't happen.
For the UNBC Timberwolves women's basketball team, a Saturday night road loss to the University of Calgary Dinos was an exercise in learning. The Dinos, ranked eighth in Canadian Interuniversity Sport, downed the Timberwolves 91-78. The T-wolves actually got to within two points of Calgary in the late stages of the second quarter but the Dinos ran away from them as the clock was ticking toward half-time. Calgary went on another scoring run at the start of the third quarter and maintained a healthy lead the rest of the way.
In the game, Calgary's bench players were given substantial minutes, so the score could have been even more lopsided in the Dinos' favour. By the end of the night, five Calgary players were in double digits for scoring, with Jessica Franz's 19 leading the way. Prior to joining the Dinos, Franz was a B.C. college player with the Capilano University Blues.
Fifth-year guard/forward Kady Dandeneau was the best of the Timberwolves. She finished with 18 points, 15 of them from behind the three-point line. Mercedes Van Koughnett added 16 points for the T-wolves and Sarah Robin had 14.
The Dinos remained unbeaten on the season. With Saturday's win, they elevated their record to 8-0 in the Prairie Division of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association. The T-wolves, meanwhile, dropped to 3-5 in the Pacific Division and are now on a three-game losing skid.
Things won't get any easier for the Timberwolves in their next two outings. On Thursday (6 p.m., Northern Sport Centre) they'll host the University of Alberta Pandas, who currently own a 4-4 record in the Prairie Division. Then, on Saturday, UNBC will welcome the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, the ninth-ranked team in the CIS. To date, the Huskies have a 3-5 record but they lost three close games to Regina (No. 3 in the CIS) and Calgary earlier in the season. The Huskies also handed Regina its only loss so far, 70-65 in overtime on Nov. 1.
In men's action on Saturday night, the Dinos topped the Timberwolves 73-62. A poor first half hurt the T-wolves, as they hit just 25.7 per cent of their shots from the field and scored only 23 points. They trailed by 14 at halftime.
The T-wolves had a stronger third quarter and outscored their hosts 21-13 to pull into a six-point deficit, 50-44. But, Calgary regained control in the fourth and walked off the court with the 11-point victory. Overall, the Dinos did a much better job of getting to the free-throw line and produced 19 points from the stripe, compared to just eight for the Timberwolves.
Point guard Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson knocked down a game-high 24 points for Calgary. Veteran swingman Sam Raphael led UNBC with 15.
Both teams now have 4-4 records.
The Timberwolves, losers of two consecutive games, will try to get back on track Thursday (8 p.m.) at the NSC when they take on the powerhouse University of Alberta Golden Bears. U of A leads the Prairie Division of Canada West with a 7-1 record and is coming off a 68-66 Saturday win against the UBC Thunderbirds, who started the weekend ranked third in the country.
The T-wolves will also host the University of Saskatchewan Huskies this coming Saturday.
