UNBC women’s basketball preview
Saturday, February 19th vs Trinity Western Spartans, 1 p.m., Northern Sport Centre
UNBC Timberwolves – Record (8-7)
4th in West Division Standings
70.1 Points Scored Per Game
70.3 Points Allowed Per Game
Scoring Leader: Alina Shakirova (20.0 Per Game)
Rebounding Leader: Sveta Boykova (12.6 Per Game)
Assists Leader: Lucy Guan (2.8 Per Game)
Steals Leader: Sarah Kuklisin (1.9 Per Game)
Blocks Leader: Emma vanBruinessen (0.3 Per Game)
Player To Watch: Alina Shakirova, G/F
20.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.4 APG. 1.8 SPG
TWU Spartans - Record (14-3)
1st in West Division Standings
70.3 Points Scored Per Game
61.5 Points Allowed Per Game
Scoring Leader: Nicole Fransson (16.4 Per Game)
Rebounding Leader: Nicole Fransson (11.1 Per Game)
Assists Leader: Jayden Gill (3.4 Per Game)
Steals Leader: Jayden Gill (1.7 Per Game)
Blocks Leader: Jayden Gill / Nicole Fransson (0.9 Per Game)
Player To Watch: Kianna Wiens, G
12.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.5 SPG
Quotes:
UNBC’s Emma vanBruinessen
On the matchup with the Spartans…
“Trinity Western is a really disciplined team. They are well-coached. They have some players who are pretty good in the paint, sneaky on the rebounds, with really great putbacks. Plus, they have some really good shooters, so we definitely have to contain them this weekend.”
On keys to limiting TWU…
“Nicole Fransson, Jolene Vlieg. It took us a lot when we played them last to be big on the boards. We had a few players with big scoring games, so we will need to feed the ball to the right people.”
On playing at home for the first time since November…
“It will be really good to have the crowd behind us. We didn’t have that at Trinity Western. They had a lot of fans at their home gym. It’ll be great to have the crowd cheering us on. Going into playoffs with a couple wins would be really great, and give us that momentum.”
Milestone Watch
-Alina Shakirova scored her 700th career Canada West point last week vs TWU
-Laura Garmendia Garcia scored her 100th career Canada West point Thursday vs UBC
-Sarah Kuklisin needs 12 points to reach 100 for her Canada West career
-Alina Shakirova recorded her 100th career Canada West assists Thursday vs UBC
-Alina Shakirova needs four rebounds to reach 300 for her Canada West career
-Sveta Boykova broke Vasiliki Louka’s UNBC freshman record for rebounds Thursday vs UBC (169)
-Sarah Kuklisin needs five steals to break Maria Mongomo’s UNBC record for most steals by a freshman (30)
-Sveta Boykova needs eight assists to break Cassie Rerick’s UNBC record for most assists by a freshman (40)
UNBC Men’s basketball preview
Saturday, February 19th vs Trinity Western Spartans, 3 p.m., Northern Sport Centre
UNBC Timberwolves - Record (5-11)
5th in West Division Standings
76.3 Points Scored Per Game
83.9 Points Allowed Per Game
Scoring Leader: Tyrell Laing (19.2 Per Game)
Rebounding Leader: Fareed Shittu (7.8 Per Game)
Assists Leader: Vova Pluzhnikov (4.5 Per Game)
Steals Leader: Fareed Shittu (1.2 Per Game)
Blocks Leader: Fareed Shittu (1.7 Per Game)
Player To Watch: Spencer Ledoux, F
11.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.0 APG
TWU Spartans - Record (8-9)
4th in West Division Standings
84.2 Points Scored Per Game
88.2 Points Allowed Per Game
Scoring Leader: Ja’Qualyn Gilbreth (27.2 Per Game)
Rebounding Leader: Mason Bourcier (9.2 Per Game)
Assists Leader: Mason Bourcier (7.9 Per Game)
Steals Leader: Mason Bourcier (2.4 Per Game)
Blocks Leader: Connor Platz (1.3 Per Game)
Player To Watch: Andrew Goertzen, F
7.8 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 0.9 SPG
Quotes:
UNBC’s Fareed Shittu
On the matchup with the Spartans…
“They move well. They’re really fast in transition, so if we ever turn the ball over or don’t get a stop, then they just run. I think they’re one of the most efficient offenses in the country, so we just need to do our job slowing them down.”
On slowing the Trinity attack…
“They have a couple really good drivers who can get in the lane, and there’s not too much you can really do to stop them. We have to be able to help, and then rotate to stop the shooters from getting easy catch-and-shoot three’s.”
On building momentum for the Canada West playoffs…
“I think it is really important. Going into these games, win or lose, just taking some good things out of it, and building on that so we are more prepared for the playoffs. It will be nice to be at home, maybe give them a taste of their own medicine.”
Milestone Watch
-Tyrell Laing scored his 1100th career Canada West point last week vs TWU
-Vova Pluzhnikov scored his 1000th career Canada West point last week vs TWU
-Fareed Shittu scored his 300th career Canada West point last week vs TWU
-Tyrell Laing made his 150th career Canada West 3-pointer last week vs TWU
-Vova Pluzhnikov made his 200th career Canada West free throw last week vs TWU
-Payton Tirrell scored his 100th career Canada West point last week vs UBCO
-Payton Tirrell needs nine rebounds to reach 100 for his Canada West career
-Fareed Shittu needs 16 rebounds to reach 300 for his Canada West career
-Vova Pluzhnikov needs two 3-pointers to reach 150 for his Canada West career
-Tyrell Laing needs six assists to reach 200 for his Canada West career
