Scheduled Game: VICTORIA*

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GAME RESULTS 1 2 3 4 T Victoria 23 13 17 15 68 « FINAL Trinity Western 20 16 15 11 62

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Game Recap

WOMENS BASKETBALL (CANADA WEST)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2009
TWU SPARTANS (62) VS THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA VIKES (68)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STRONG SECOND HALF GIVES VIKES WIN IN SPARTANS OPENER

LANGLEY, British Columbia – The No. 6 University of Victoria spoiled the Trinity Western University women’s basketball team’s home opener with a 17-0 run midway through the second half to prevail 68-62 Friday night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. The loss drops the Spartans to 1-4, while the win moves the Vikes to 2-2.

“We struggled with their half court trap midway through the third quarter,” commented TWU head coach Kerby Court on his team’s second half struggles. “We expected it right away, but they delayed it and we struggled with our positioning, even though we have a simple break, we had difficulty getting to the right spots and take advantage of our opportunities. And the shots that were falling in the first half just weren’t falling in the second.”

Spartans forward Lauren Doubroff of Surrey, B.C. led all players with an impressive double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds, while the Vikes Carmen Lapthorne of Victoria finished with 21 points to lead Victoria.

The game opened up as a fast paced high scoring match-up. The two teams exchanged baskets through the first ten minutes, which ended with the Vikes leading 23-20. Victoria’s Natalie Janssens of Surrey, B.C. and TWU’s Doubroff led their respective clubs with six points each.

The second quarter was considerably slower paced as defence became the name of the game. Led by Doubroff’s nine point quarter Trinity Western outscored Victoria 16-13 to have the teams enter the first half break knotted at 36-36. Lapthorne led the Vikes in the first half with 11 points, while Doubroff finished with 15 points. Janssens ended the half with one point and one rebound off of a double-double at nine points and nine rebounds.

The Spartans came out strong to start the second half. They outscored the Vikes 15 to six and after forward Holly Strom of Calgary hit jumper TWU led 51-42 with five minutes remaining in the third quarter. “We were prepared for the start of the second half and were ready to be strong and we took advantage of our opportunities,” commented Court.

Then the next five minutes the Spartans found a lid on the basket as the Vikes finished the half with an 11-0 run to take a 53-51 lead into the final frame.

Victoria kept the defensive run going and with just under five minutes remaining in the contest had built a double digit, 63-52, lead. The Spartans regrouped and cut the Vikes lead to five points, 67-62, after a Doubroff three point basket with 45 seconds remaining. But Victoria went three for four from the foul line to keep TWU at bay as they outlasted the Spartans 68-62.

“The girls really focused down the stretched,” said Court. “They are doing a good job with all the lineup changes that we have had to make because of injury and tonight we saw how this group can play if we play together.”

Also contributing for the Spartans was guard Emily Knauff of Maple Ridge, B.C. with 15 points, while the Vikes Janssens added 11 points and 11 rebounds.

The two teams will match up again tomorrow night at the LEC. Game time is set for 5 p.m.

Game Notes: The Spartans finished shooting 43.6 percent (24-55) from the field, 37.5 percent (9-24) from the three point line and 41.7 percent (5-12) from the foul line, while the Vikes shot 40.3 percent (25-62), 28.6 percent (6-21) and 75 percent (12-16) respectively…TWU had 24 turnovers to Victoria’s 21…The Vikes had the edge in rebounding 41-32…

-TW-

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