The injury-depleted UNBC Timberwolves received some good news from the medical staff Wednesday.
Guard Lucy Guan has cleared concussion protocol and will be available for Friday's U Sports Canada West playoff game in Lethbridge and that gives the Timberwolves an eighth player to bring to the court to face the Pronghorns in a single-game elimination playoff against the Pronghorns.
That couldn't come at a better time for a team that was down to just six healthy bodies last weekend when they swept the MacEwan Griffins to end the season on an eight-game winning streak.
Guan, who missed the last four games, was injured when she collided head-to-head with teammate Anastasia Soltes during a game against Brandon Jan. 25 at the Northern Sport Centre. Soltes, a rookie guard, suffered facial fractures and joined the long list of T-wolves sidelined for the season.
Four of them - forwards Laura Garmendia Garcia, Svetlana Boykova and Cevanna Carlson, as well as guard Alina Shakirova - suffered ACL injuries. Garcia, a native of Spain, hurt her knee in the spring while playing in a Spanish women's league. Boykova tore her ligament in a preseason game against the T-wolves alumni. The same injury limited Carlson and Shakirova to just 10 games of the 20-game season.
Guard Julia Gallant, a third-year guard, is suffering from vertigo as a result of an inner-ear infection and has averaged just five minutes per game through 15 games.
"We are doing alright, we're winning," said T-wolves head coach Sergey Shchepotkin. "I believe the girls are playing for each other and they enjoy playing as a team and it's working right now. They are doing their best.
"They're supporting our leaders and from time to time they take that leadership upon themselves. Everybody is beaten hard and tired. Their hands and legs are black and blue. Lucy will go with us (to Lethbridge) so we actually will have eight on the bench."
Canada West scoring champion Maria Mongomo, in the final 10 regular-season game of her five-year career at UNBC, averaged 25.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 3.7 steals. The 25-year-old native of Las Palmas, Spain fought off a shoulder injury in the last game against MacEwan and led the T-wolves with 29 points.
"We are just taking it step by step, game by game, and we want to give 100 per cent now that it's almost at the end of the season," said Mongomo. "Now we are going to playoffs and we're going to let it all out. We are trying to give 100 per cent but also we have to adjust. We can't get five fouls and we are trying to keep it together with only six or seven players. Whenever a teammate is in trouble with fouls we adjust and try to help that person."
In her final season before she moves on to a probably career in pro basketball, Mongomo put aside an early-season ankle injury and scored 402 points in 20 games, averaging 20.1 per game. She also finished third in the conference in total rebounds with 197, an average of 9.8.
"I appreciate (the scoring title), and I don't take it for granted because there are many players in Canada West," said Mongomo. "That was the result of only hard work. That's the most important thing, to work hard, and the good things will come after. I adjusted (to the injury) and my teammates were very supportive. Every game someone steps up and makes a remarkable play to help the team. If we can all just adjust and give 100 per cent in playoffs we have so many opportunities to continue."
Duchess Park graduate Madison Landry has also had a spectacular season and the fourth-year guard ended up third in the conference scoring race, averaging 19.1 points. Another key for the T-wolves in their current hot streak has been the play of forward Emma vanBruinessen, who finished fourth in Canada West with 193 rebounds while averaging 10.2 per game. In 19 games she came up with 12 blocks and had 21 steals and the T-wolves have come to rely on her tough presence under the net with all their other natural forwards sidelined.
"Emma is a great fighter and that was a very good help for our team," said Shchepotkin. "She did excellent this year, even more than we expected form her. I'm happy that she's full of energy and gives us a big push on defence. Her numbers on rebounds are just, wow. It was a very good season for her."
The Pronghorns have experience on their side with three fifth-year seniors, four fourth-years and three third-year players. Kacie Bosch led them in scoring while averaging 16.4 points and Katie Keith is their top rebounder, averaging 9.3 per game.
The Pronghorns ended up on a five-game win streak and finished 11-9 record, equal to that of the T-wolves, but claimed eighth place and the right to host Friday's playoff because their Ratings Performance Index (.5151) was slightly better than that of the T-wolves (.4979). The RPI is based on the strength of opponents each team plays during the season. Due to the unbalanced schedule, Canada West teams do not play every other team in the season and the RPI is used to determine final seedings.
The two UNBC seniors - Mongomo and point guard Emily Holmes - could be playing in their last U Sports game unless the T-wolves beat in Lethbridge. The winner will face the Calgary Dinos in a best-of-three series next weekend in Calgary. The Dinos captured the regular season crown with an 18-2 record.
Friday's game starts at 5 p.m. PT and will be webcast live on cw.yaretv.com.
