By Larry Read
Thompson Rivers Sports Information Officer
KAMLOOPS, BC---The University of Regina Cougars are leaving the BC Interior with a pair of Canada west women's basketball victories.
The Cougars swept the host Thompson University WolfPack by beating them for a second straight night on Saturday (Jan 19). The score was 72-44.
Regina improved to 13-3 on the season. The WolfPack fell to 4-12 with two weeks left in the regular season.
The Cougars outscored the Pack 34-17 in the second half and were led by Kyanna Giles with 13 points.
SYNOPSIS
Looking to make amends after a slow start on Friday, the Cougars came out and got their 'three point' game going in the first quarter. Back to back baskets by Michaela Kleisinger and Kyla Giles helped Regina jump to a 12-6 lead. The Cougars were five for nine from three point territory in the first quarter as they jumped to a 23-12 advantage.
The second quarter saw the teams each score 15 points. Michelle Bos leading TRU into the break with 15 points. Kleisinger had nine points for Regina at the break.
Regina dominated the third quarter and led by 21. Kyanna Giles had nine points in the quarter for the Cougars. Bos had five points and four rebounds to give her 20 points and 12 boards for TRU at that point. She wound up with 20 points and was named the TRU Bookstore/McDonalds "Leader of the Pack" player of the game.
Regina had 24 points in the paint compared to 16 for TRU. The Cougars bench outscored the WolfPack bench 40-9
This was the second of four final home games for Thompson Rivers as the 2018-19 Canada West season draws to a close.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:
RECORD:
TRU: 4-12 REGINA: 13-3
THEY SAID IT!! (post game quotes):
TRU Assistant Coach Chuck Ferguson::
On the Contest: "Our effort was there. Our intensity was there. Our defense of our interior was not there. 59 rebounds-24 offensive and 24 points in the paint—we gave up too much in the middle in the end. But I thought the girls came to play. Michelle Bos came to play. She always does. Leilani Carney was really, really very good. I thought as a team we put out the effort. We didn't hit the shots we needed to hit and our defensive game wasn't there."
Video of post game interview: click here
Regina head coach Dave Taylor ( 13th season):
On what he liked in this game over Friday's victory: " I thought our defensive effort was way better. Our mental side of the defense was better. They hit a couple of difficult shots but overall I thought our defensive effort was much better. We got off to a better start than last night. We knew our depth would wear them down late in the game. If we could have a good start we were confident we would have a good second half and we would be OK."
Video of post game interview: click here
UP NEXT:
Next home game for Thompson Rivers will be next Friday (Jan 25) when the Manitoba Bisons roll into Kamloops and the Tournament Capital Centre. That game will be webcast starting at 4:50 pm on www.Canadawest.tv .All WolfPack games—home and away—are webcast on a pay per view basis on Canada West TV.
Regina will spend next weekend on the road again. This time they will be at the University of Winnipeg meeting up with the Wesmen.
The Pack will close out their regular season on the road in Calgary February 1-2 against the Dinos at the Jack Simpson gym.