IMPORTANT EARLY SEASON MATCH-UP AS SPARTANS AND VIKES OPEN HOME SEASON AT LANGLEY EVENTS CENTRE

Jordan Verhoeff

WOMENS BASKETBALL (CANADA WEST)
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009
TWU SPARTANS VS THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA VIKES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IMPORTANT EARLY SEASON MATCH-UP AS SPARTANS AND VIKES OPEN HOME SEASON AT LANGLEY EVENTS CENTRE

LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Trinity Western University Spartans will play host to the Victoria Vikes in a pair of games this weekend, with Friday’s tip-off at 6 p.m. and Saturday’s at 5 p.m.  Last week the Spartans split the weekend with their first win of the year at Brandon (73-45) and followed up with a loss at Regina (66-37).  The Vikes also split last weekend’s games as well opening with a loss to Alberta (65-75) before picking up their first win in Canada West hosting Saskatchewan (58-52).  Both teams are 1-2 on the season coming into this weekend’s home stand.

The weekends contests will be broadcast live on the web on SpartansTV at gospartans.ca.

VIKES
Last weekend the Vikes had a pair of home games hosting the Alberta Pandas and the Saskatchewan Huskies.  Leading the way for the Vikes in their loss to the Pandas was second year guard Debbie Yeboah (Winnipeg) who scored 15 points in the losing effort.  The Vikes bounced back from their loss to beat the Huskies thanks to a 14 point performance from fourth year forward Kayla Dykstra (Calgary).  Dykstra led the team in rebounding over the weekend pulling down 17 boards in two games.

Offense
The Vikes are led by a trio of offensive threats who are all averaging 10-plus points per game.  Leading the way is fourth year forward Kayla Dykstra (Calgary) who is averaging 12.7 points per game.  Dykstra is closely followed by second year guard Debbie Yeboah (Winnipeg) who averages 11.3 points per game and third year guard Carmen Lapthorne (Victoria) who averages 11 points per game.  The Vikes are very efficient on the offensive end shooting at 35.6 percent which is good enough for fourth best in Canada West.

Defense
The Vikes come into the game allowing 57.3 points per game.  Victoria is out rebounding their opponents on the defensive side 75-65 through three Canada West contests so far.  Second year forward Natalie Janssens (Surrey, B.C.) is the leading the team with four blocks on the year.  Second year guard Debbie Yeboah (Winnipeg) leads the team with five steals while three other players have four steals on the year.

SPARTANS
Last week the Spartans went .500 on a tough road swing through the prairies.  Leading the way for the Spartans last weekend was second year guard Emily Knauff (Maple Ridge, B.C.) who scored 39 points over two games.  Fifth year forward Lauren Doubroff (Surrey, B.C.) led the Spartan on the glass snagging 15 rebounds over the weekend.

Offence
The Spartans offense has struggled early only averaging 50.2 points per game.  Trinity Western has received most of their offense through second year guard Emily Knauff and fifth year forward Lauren Doubroff. Knauff is averaging 13.7 points per game and Doubroff is averaging 12.5 points per game.  The Spartans are one of the best three point shooting teams in Canada West shooting at 35.7 percent beyond the arc good enough for fourth best.

Defence
The Spartans defence currently ranks seventh in Canada West holding their opponents to 71 points per game.  Trinity Western is out rebounding their opponents (89-79) through four games on the year.  Third year forward Tiffany Olsen (Fanny Bay, B.C.) leads the Spartans with four blocks on the year.  Emily Knauff leads the Spartans with nine steals followed by Stephanie Carkner (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) who has seven steals on the year.

AT A GLANCE
Spartans (1-3)
CIS Ranking not ranked
Last Week:     @ Brandon 73-45 W
        @ Regina 66-37 W
2008 Conference: 11-12 tied for 4th in pacific
2008 CW Playoffs: 0-2
2008 CIS Championship: NA
Last CW Title: NA
Last CIS Title: NA

Vikes (1-2)
CIS Ranking: not ranked
Last Week:    Alberta 65-75 L
        Sask 58-52 W
2008 Conference: 17-6 2nd
2008 CW Playoffs: 0-2
CIS Championship: NA
Last CW Title: 2000
Last CIS Title: 2003

Last Updated: 2009-11-19
Author: Scott Stewart