The UNBC Timberwolves hope the Christmas spirit shines down on them with a couple of victories this weekend.
The men's and women's basketball teams wrap up the first half of their seasons at the Northern Sport Centre when they play the UBC Okanagan Heat. It's their last two-game series prior final exams and the Christmas break.
The 0-6 UNBC women go into tonight's contest in search of their first win of the season after they dropped a couple of close games (60-59, 58-52) to the Mount Royal Cougars in the Canada West Explorers Division last weekend.
UBCO's women sport a 2-4 record and are coming off a split against the MacEwan Griffins. They sit in fifth place in the Explorers Division ahead of the last-place Timberwolves.
"They're very similar to us [a young team] and we have a chance to win," said Timberwolves head coach Sergey Shchepotkin. "We expect a close game."
The UBCO men also have a 2-4 record and earned a split against the Griffins last weekend - an 80-76 win and a 68-64 loss.
The 1-5 Timberwolves beat the Cougars 71-60 last Friday, but suffered a 77-69 loss to the same squad Saturday.
"They're young and their front line isn't nearly as experienced as ours, but they've had a good start to the season," UNBC men's head coach Todd Jordan said of UBCO. "It'll be interesting. I've seen a couple of their younger kids from the provincial team."
The women tip off tonight at 6, followed by the men at 8.
On Saturday, game times are 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The Timberwolves resume play in Canada West Jan. 9-10 when they travel to Edmonton to take on MacEwan.
