Vasiliki Louka had a game-high 22 points to help guide UNBC's women's basketball team to a 68-57 victory over the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Saturday night at the Charles Jago No,rthern Sport Centre.
UNBC's victory completed the weekend-sweep over the WolfPack as the Timberwolves improve to 3-7 in Canada West play. The WolfPack fall to 2-8.
It's the first time the Timberwolves have swept a Canada West opponent in their five-year history.
“It feels really good to get two wins in a row right before the Christmas break," said Louka, a third-year forward who credited her teammates for another strong performance. “It gives us confidence that we're playing as a team and that translates into wins. We used the clock in the end and we hadn't had that experience before.”
Louka added 13 rebounds for her second-straight double-double.
Second-year forward Maria Mongomo chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds.
The WolfPack were led by second-year guard Leilani Carney with 16 points and three rebounds. Third-year guard Kanesha Reeves tallied 11 points.
“We didn't shoot the ball well and we were still getting killed on rebounds,” said WolfPack head coach Scott Reeves. “We didn't have enough possessions if we turn it (the ball) over to win.”
Right from the opening tip-off, UNBC had the lead. Timberwolves held a 16-14 edge after the first quarter. They pushed it to 35-24 midway through the second quarter on an 11-4 run sparked by Louka with seven points, among the 11 she scored in the quarter.
They held a 39-30 lead after the first half.
The WolfPack went on an 8-2 run of their own in the final three minutes of the third quarter to narrow UNBC's lead to eight.
In the fourth quarter, Timberwolves fifth-year forward Stacey Graham drained a pair of shots from the three-point arc and UNBC ran out the clock.
The T-wolves won 89-82 on Friday. Both teams are idle in Canada West action until the new year.
The WolfPack host the University of Victoria Vikings. Jan. 6-7 and Reeves is looking forward to opening the second half of the season at home.
“We're a young team trying to find some leadership and identity, right now we're going to struggle. And we've only played at home twice this season.”
UNBC travels to Lethbridge to battle the Pronghorns Jan. 6-7 where they hope to build on the success of the weekend.
“We have to keep pushing forward,” said Louka.
