Down to their last four games of the season, the UNBC Timberwolves head into their final Canada West Conference home series this weekend at the Northern Sport Centre with a chance to solidify a playoff position.
Right now that position is precarious, with UNBC (6-12) holding down the 12th and final postseason spot.
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack of Kamloops (5-11, 13th place) face the T-wolves Friday ( 7 p.m.) and Saturday (6 p.m.) in what promises to be a dogfight on the NSC basketball court.
The WolfPack will be trying to end a six-game losing streak. The T-wolves ended a seven-game slide Saturday in Calgary with 96-85 win over the Mount Royal Cougars.
The Saskatchewan Huskies (5-11) are also within striking distance of UNBC, but face a tough test this weekend in Saskatoon taking on the fourth-place Alberta Golden Bears (11-5).
The UNBC women (6-10, are also in action at home this weekend to take on the TRU WolfPack (1-15) Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m.
The T-wolves currently rank 12th with four games left to try to clinch their playoff spot. They are coming off a 72-56 win Saturday over Mount Royal.
UNBC is one win up on the Lethbridge Pronghorns (5-11, 13th place), who host the MacEwan Griffins (2-13, 15th place) in a two-game set this weekend.
Both UNBC teams will end the regular season on the road next weekend in Brandon, Man.
Men's preview
UNBC T-wolves vs TRU WolfPack
Friday @ 7 p.m., Saturday @ 6 p.m., Northern Sport Centre)
UNBC Timberwolves (6-10)
12th in CW Standings
80.1 Points Scored Per Game (11th)
86.5 Points Allowed Per Game (15th)
Scoring Leader: Micah Jessie (15.7 Per Game)
Rebounding Leader: Fareed Shittu (9.2 Per Game)
Assists Leader: Micah Jessie (4.4 Per Game)
Steals Leader: Chris Ross (1.5 Per Game)
Blocks Leader: Fareed Shittu (1.3 Per Game)
UNBC Player to Watch: Spencer Ledoux, F
11.0 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.8 BPG, 0.8 SPG
Coming off his best performance of the year; a 26 point outing against the MRU Cougars, Ledoux looks to be in strong form heading into a pair of must-win games against TRU. The Kamloops product is no stranger to the WolfPack, so TRU will look to try to limit the six-foot-seven big man, who led the conference in field goal percentage in the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
TRU WolfPack (5-11)
13th in CW Standings
72.1 Points Scored Per Game (16th)
81.2 Points Allowed Per Game (6th)
Scoring Leader: Asher Mayan (15.1 Per Game)
Rebounding Leader: Asher Mayan (5.9 Per Game)
Assists Leader: Asher Mayan (2.8 Per Game)
Steals Leader: Daniel Bost (1.3 Per Game)
Blocks Leader: Simon Crossfield (0.7 Per Game)
TRU Player to Watch: Asher Mayan, F
15.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.8 APG
A third-year forward, Mayan has been thrust into the go-to role for the Pack, and has more than looked the part. Standing six-foot-five, the Langley product has range beyond the arc, and the bulk to get tough buckets inside. Scott Clark’s TRU program is known conference-wide as a team that makes its opposition work for every point, so Mayan will need to be good at both ends against the Timberwolves.
UNBC Milestone Watch
Fareed Shittu needs 30 points to reach 600 for his Canada West career
Spencer Ledoux needs 21 points to reach 500 for his Canada West career
Darren Hunter needs 36 points to reach 300 for his Canada West career
Saymon Loki needs 13 points to reach 100 for his Canada West career
Chris Ross needs 20 rebounds to reach 300 for his Canada West career
Micah Jessie needs five rebounds to reach 100 for his Canada West career
Fareed Shittu needs one block to reach 75 for his Canada West career
Women's preview
UNBC T-wolves vs TRU WolfPack
Friday at 5 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m., Northern Sport Centre
UNBC Timberwolves (6-10)
12th in CW Standings
65.1 Points Scored Per Game (13th)
70.2 Points Allowed Per Game (11th)
Scoring Leader: Alina Shakirova (17.5 Per Game)
Rebounding Leader: Sveta Boykova (10.5 Per Game)
Assists Leader: Sarah Kuklisin (4.8 Per Game)
Steals Leader: Alina Shakirova (2.4 Per Game)
Blocks Leader: Olivia Wilson (1.0 Per Game)
UNBC Player To Watch: Olivia Wilson, F
5.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.0 BPG
There are few players who compete in Canada West basketball with the same level of IQ and understanding as Olivia Wilson. A National champion with the McMaster Marauders, the senior post does so many of the little, unseen, connective things that lead to a team’s success. As UNBC looks to take a big step towards the conference playoffs, the Oakville, ON product will be leaned on to continue her recent play, in the last home weekend of her career.
TRU WolfPack (1-15)
16th in CW Standings
44.7 Points Scored Per Game (17th)
78.2 Points Allowed Per Game (16th)
Scoring Leader: Megan Rouault (8.2 Per Game)
Rebounding Leader: Megan Rouault (3.9 Per Game)
Assists Leader: Danijela Kovacevic (1.5 Per Game)
Steals Leader: Danijela Kovacevic (2.0 Per Game)
Blocks Leader: Elana Sireni (0.4 Per Game)
TRU Player To Watch: Danijela Kovacevic, G
4.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.5 APG, 2.0 SPG
A second-year guard, Kovacevic does a little bit of everything for a WolfPack team that has 10 players averaging 16 minutes per game, and no one playing more than 25 minutes. The Serbian is aggressive on defense, registering an eight-steal game this season against MacEwan. UNBC will need to watch her on both ends of the court to limit Kovacevic’s effectiveness.
UNBC Milestone Watch
Amrit Manak scored her 100th career Canada West point last week vs MRU
Rebecca Landry recorded her 100th career Canada West rebound last week vs MRU
Alina Shakirova needs 23 points to reach 1100 for her Canada West careerJenna Korolek needs 10 points to reach 100 for her Canada West careerSveta Boykova needs 15 rebounds to reach 400 for her Canada West career
Sveta Boykova needs 13 assists to reach 100 for her Canada West career
Rebecca Landry needs 14 assists to reach 100 for her Canada West career
Alina Shakirova needs five 3-pointers to reach 100 for her Canada West career
Amrit Manak needs five 3-pointers to break Mavia Nijjer’s program record for a first-year player
--
