SPARTANS HOST TWO DIVISIONAL RIVALS- Important points on the line against Cascades and WolfPack

Basketball (Canada West)
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Weekend Preview

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SPARTANS HOST TWO DIVISIONAL RIVALS
-- Important points on the line against Cascades and WolfPack

LANGLEY, British Columbia-The Trinity Western University Spartans men's and women's basketball teams will play host to two Pacific Division rivals this weekend at the David E. Enarson gymnasium. The Spartans host the University College of Fraser Valley Cascades on Friday night and the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack on Saturday.

The UCFV women's team (7-7) is currently in the midst of a four-game winning streak. After opening the season with three wins, the Cascades dropped their next seven games, until they recently turned things around with wins in their last four match-ups. Up front, they're led by former Spartan Samantha Hill (5th year, Abbotsford, B.C.), who averages team-highs in points and rebounds with 11.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Stingy defender Carmella Silvestri (4th year, Maple Ridge, B.C.) also makes a strong contribution on offense, averaging 10.1 points per game. The Cascades swept the Spartans in a weekend double-header earlier this season at the Envision Athletic Centre in Abbotsford.

The Thompson Rivers University women (1-13) picked up their first win of the season this past weekend against Brandon on the strength of 24 points from guard Kaitlyn Widsten (1st year, Tsawwassen, B.C.). Widsten currently sits third in team scoring with 8.2 points per game, while the Wolfpack are led offensively by Sarah Cameron's (4th year, Langley, B.C.) 10.3 point per game average. Another freshman, Michelle Dimond (1st year, Port Moody, B.C.), leads the team in rebounding with 6.6 per game, while Widsten also pulls down over six boards per game. The Spartans won both contests against the Wolfpack earlier this season.

The Spartan women (7-7) are currently tied for fourth in the Pacific Division with the Cascades, adding even more significance to these two divisional contests. The Spartans are led in scoring and assists by Laura Craig (3rd year, Delta, B.C.) with averages of 9.6 points and 3.1 assists per game. Sophomore post Corina Reimer (2nd year, Abbotsford, B.C.) has a team high 7.6 rebounds per game, to which she adds 6.5 points. This past weekend the Spartans saw a strong performance from speedy guard Krystal Crofton (2nd year, Langley); she had 14 points on 67% shooting in a losing cause against Victoria.

The UCFV men (5-9) split their previous meetings with the Spartans, making this Friday's affair an important rubber-match. The Cascades and the Spartans are currently tied in the Pacific Division standings. Veteran guard Lee Jackson (5th year, Olympia, Wash.) averages 12.4 points per game and leads the team with 27 three-point field goals. On the interior, post Joel Haviland (5th year, Abbotsford, B.C.) averages 11 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Lightning-quick guard Tristan Smith (1st year, Gardena, Cali.) averages 10.9 points and nearly three assists per contest.

The WolfPack men's team (1-13) notched their first victory of this season against the Spartans last semester and will be looking to play spoiler as they come to the David E. on Saturday. Led by guard Drew Bleth's (3rd year, Ridgefield, Wash.) 14.4 points per game, the WolfPack also rely on Kamar Burke (2nd year, Mississauga, Ont.), who leads the team with 7.1 rebounds per game and 2.9 assists, to which he adds almost 12 points. Burke had 20 points and 16 rebounds in the TRU win last November.

The Spartan men (5-9) played perennial Canada West powerhouse Victoria to a split this past weekend, winning on Friday thanks to 14 points and nine rebounds from forward Lance Verhoeff (2nd year, Calgary). Trinity Western is led by dynamic guard Luke Robinson (5th year, Ahousat, B.C), who averages 16.6 points and five rebounds per game. Talented freshman point guard Jon Loewen (1st year, Abbotsford, B.C.) averages 10.9 points and 2.8 assists per game while controlling the pace for the Spartan back court. Up front, Joe Vroom (3rd year, Abbotsford, B.C.) uses his 6'9" frame to pull down rebounds to the tune of 6.6 per game, a team-high.

Women's games get underway at 6 p.m., men's at 8 p.m., on both Friday and Saturday. For all the live action tune in to Spartan Web Radio (www.spartanwebradio.com) at 5:50 p.m.

-TW-

Last Updated: 2008-01-15
Author: Scott Stewart
Email: ssstew@twu.ca