By Larry Read

TRU Sports Information

KAMLOOPS, BC---The curtain went up on the 2017-18 Canada West women's basketball season Friday night (Oct 27). The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack opened up a weekend series facing the MacEwan University Griffins out of Edmonton, Alberta.

It was the first meeting between the teams in nearly two years.  The WolfPack coming out with a 72-58 victory.

 SYNOPSIS

It was your typical opening night with a few jitters and a lot of turnovers.  MacEwan had 34 to TRU's 29.

The Pack had three players in double figures, all with 11 points—Emily Vilac, Chelsey Hoey and Maddy Neumann.

MacEwan got 16 points from Kayla Ivicak.

The Pack outscored MacEwan every quarter but the fourth.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:

click here

KEY STATS:

Thompson Rivers :

Maddy Neuman (3^rd year, guard, Calgary, AB):  11 points

Emily Vilac (4^th year, forward, Kamloops, BC): 11 points  6 rebounds

Chelsey Hoey (3^rd year, forward, Parksville, BC) 11 points  6 rebounds

Michelle Bos (4^th year, guard, Surrey, BC):  9 points 9 rebounds

Jordon Haggarty (1^st year, guard, Saskatoon, SK): 9 points

Shenise Sigsworth (5^th year, forward, Kamloops,BC): 8 rebounds 6 points

MacEwan:

Kayla Ivicak (4^th year, guard, St.Albert,AB): 16 points, 4 rebounds

Brielle Wise (3^rd year, guard, St Albert, AB): 8 points  2 rebounds

Kathryn Sutherland (2^nd year guard, Spruce Grove, AB) 7points 3 rebounds

Paige Knull (5^th year guard, St. Albert, AB):  7 points 2 rebounds

Mackenzie Farmer (1^st year guard, Sherwood Park, AB) 7 points 3 rebounds

Turnovers:

MacEwan: 34    TRU: 29

Score by Periods:

TRU                 18  21  21  12   -58

MacEwan:      10  19    8  21   -72

RECORD:

TRU:   1-0            MacEwan: 0-1

QUOTES:

TRU Assistant Coach Chuck Ferguson::

On the Contest: " I thought we played well. We turned over the ball way too much. In the first half, I thought we gave them too many opportunities on both the offensive and defensive glass. In the second half we tightened it up. We put a little more ball pressure on and that helped. It is a great start. It is exactly what you are looking for at home."

Rookie jitters? " I think so and that is expected. I thought Mac  (Makayla Hoey, 1^st year, guard, Parksville, BC) looked a little nervous going in at the start. They tied it down and they produced well. Rouault, they all gave us 10 minutes. Can't ask much more from them. Mac did a great job against pressure in the early part of the game."

Video of post game interview:  here

MacEwan Head Coach Katherine Adams (2^nd season):

On the difference in the game: "We have had three weeks without competition and I think you could tell. We hadn't played in a while and we weren't competition ready. Thompson Rivers was playing last weekend. We got off to a slow start partially because of that. It was highlighted by our over 20 turnovers in the first half.  I thought we responded well in the second half. It's something to build on for tomorrow."

Turnovers were part of opening night jitters:  "I think so. Turnovers that were completely in our control: bouncing it off our foot, passing to no one sometimes. Those things are totally within our control. We have seven first year kids: five of them here with us this weekend. For them, it is a big deal. This is their first USPORTS game. Definitely, some nerves. On the other side, our fifth year players are realizing this is their last year, their last season opener, and their last road trip to Thompson Rivers all that stuff. Hopefully we are past that and can move on for tomorrow."

Video of post game interview:  click here

UP NEXT:

The  WolfPack  and Griffins will do battle again tomorrow (Saturday) night at the Tournament Capital Centre starting at 5 pm.  The game will be webcast on www.Canadawest.tv with Jamie Shinkewski calling the play by play. Kendric Carlock will be the color commentator and Kashara Atkins providing interviews.  The pregame show begins at 4:50 pm.

OF NOTE:

 The "TRU Bookstore/McDonalds  Leader of the Pack" Player of the game was Vilac.