Scheduled Game: VICTORIA*

62

GAME RESULTS 1 2 T UVIC-W 33 29 62 « FINAL Spartan Women 02-03 30 29 59

59

Game Recap

Women's Basketball (Conference)
Saturday, November 23, 2002
TWU Spartans (59) vs the University of Victoria Vikes (62)

Heartbreaker

Langley, British Columbia - Twenty-four hours after the University of Victoria Vikes had blown them out, the Trinity Western University women's basketball team showed that they have what it takes to compete against the top teams in the nation. The Spartans came out and played a spirited, hard fought match against the 8th ranked Vikes. Battling UVIC at both ends of the floor they took the game down to the wire before losing a nail biter 62-59.

"We have nothing to be ashamed about tonight," said TWU head coach Danielle Gardner. "Our team played with emotion and desire, but more importantly we played together as a team."

Five minutes into tonight's game it looked like it was going to be a repeat of last night's blowout. UVIC had built a nine point lead, 14-5, and were starting to take control of the game. But the Spartans were a more determined bunch tonight. They started to click on offense, their defensive intensity picked up and before UVIC knew what happened TWU had taken a six-point lead, 24-18, on a 20-4 run.

The two teams looked like they would go into the half knotted at 30, but a 3 point bucket by UVIC's Beckie MacDonald with 14 seconds on the clock gave the Vikes a three point lead at the break.

In the second half Victoria once again looked to break the game open. They started strong and after another MacDonald 3-pointer, UVIC took a six point lead, 45-39, with less than fourteen minutes remaining. However, as was shown in the first half, tonight's match was not going to get away from the Spartans. Once again the Spartans dug their heals in on defense and got their offensive attack going; TWU not only caught the Vikes, they passed them. In ten minutes TWU had managed to outscore UVIC 17-7 and were looking at a four-point lead, 56-52 with less than 4:30 remaining.

This was uncharted territory for the Spartans, and unfortunately TWU had their hearts broken as UVIC shut down the Spartans over the final minutes and came back with a 9-3 run to take the game.

Evidence of the Spartans' team play were the three players scoring in double digits and eight players tallying points on the score sheet. Leading the way for TWU was Samantha Hill with a double-double in points, 10, and rebounds, 10, while UVIC was led by Krystal O'Byrne's 22 points and 6 rebounds.

There is no relief for the Spartans from the onslaught of top ten teams as next week they get to travel to Burnaby Mountain to take on the #2-ranked Simon Fraser University Clan. Game time on Friday, November 29 is set for 6:30 pm at SFU.

Game Notes: The Spartans outrebounded UVIC 31-28...TWU had 16 team assists...TWU outshot the Vikes (46%-40%)....but turnovers proved costly as TWU had 21 to UVIC's 12...

-30-

Play-by-Play

Photo Gallery