For 20 minutes Saturday the UNBC Timberwolves women's basketball team played like they were in a different time zone then the UBC Thunderbirds.
The T-Wolves (6-14) were out-hustled in the first half at the Northern Sport Centre by the visiting T-birds (16-4) and trailed 37-19 at the half with the visitors going on to sweep the doubleheader with a 70-48 win.
T-wolves head coach Loralyn Murdoch said after playing with the sixth-ranked team in CIS in Friday's 63-60 loss it was disappointing to see the way her team began the rematch.
"We just played so bad it was like we were sleeping," said Murdoch. "We needed a kick in the butt. We couldn't have played worse offensively then we did in the first half that's the difference."
Determined not to let the underdog T-wolves get a sniff of victory a second time UBC came out hard against an unprepared T-wolves team, blitzing them 20-7 in the first 10 minutes. The second quarter went slightly better, at least on the score board, for the home team but UBC still went into the locker room with an 18-point advantage.
In the first half, UBC hit more than 41 per cent (5 of 12) of their three-point shots. The T-wolves managed to reduce their opponent's percentage to 9.1 per cent (1 of 11) in the second half, but the T-birds just moved inside to gain their points.
"You have to pick your poison; they're a very good team and we knew they were going to come out tough [Saturday]," said Murdoch. "We didn't realize how tough."
UNBC out scored the T-birds 18-15 in the third quarter with the visitors taking the fourth quarter 18-11. After shooting 33 per cent from the field in the first half the T-wolves made 48 per cent of their field goals in the final 20 minutes.
Kady Dandeneau and Mercedes Van Koughnett led the T-wolves with 11 points apiece. Van Koughnett also picked up five boards. The T-birds were led by their lone fifth-year player, Leigh Stansfield, with 16 points. Stephanie Bell had eight rebounds for UBC.
Stansfield said the T-birds were able to play their own style better in the second game of the doubleheader.
"We brought a lot more defensive intensity," said the 22-year-old post. "We brought a lot more energy and a lot more focus that kind of turned it around for us."
Murdoch said the bright spot for her in Saturday's game was the fact the T-wolves didn't quit.
"We got down early and we needed to chip away at that and we got to within 13 I think, which shows a lot of heart and a lot of character," said Murdoch. "I'm proud of the effort they put in out there."
