The UBC Thunderbirds women's basketball team tipped off the 2014-15 season by rallying to defeat the Guelph Gryphons 75-69 in overtime Thursday night at War Memorial Gym. The non-conference match up was the first game of the season for the Thunderbirds. Harleen Sidhu finished the night with 34 points and 16 rebounds.
After trailing much of the game Guelph took the lead midway through the fourth quarter. They would extend the lead to 63-58 with 59 seconds left in the game when Dana Van Balkom hit a three pointer. However, the Thunderbirds responded courtesy of Sidhu who converted on a hoop and a harm to cut the lead to 63-61 with 41.6 seconds remaining. Then with 11.6 seconds left Sidhu again came through hitting the hoop to tie the game at 63-63. Guelph had a chance to win, but UBC's solid defence prevented Bridget Atkinson from getting a shot off.
In overtime Sidhu continued to shine, scoring six of the Thunderbirds 12 points to earn the 75-69 victory. The difference in the extra frame was UBC's defence, making a number of key steals and limiting the Gryphons to just six points.
Sidhu finished the night 14-of-26 from the floor for 34 points, 26 coming in the second half and overtime. She ended the game one field goal shy of her own school record.
"Everything was a little rough tonight, but I like the way we dug in, found a way to win and comeback from being down five points late in the game and forcing overtime," said UBC head coach Deb Huband, now her 20th year at the helm of the Thunderbirds program.
UBC led the Gryphons 15-11 after the first quarter and 28-26 at the half. Two-time CIS All-Canadian Kris Young led the Thunderbirds with 13 points in the first half of play. Katherine MacTavish countered with eight points for the Gryphons.
The game remained close through the third quarter with UBC maintaining a one-point lead going into the final quarter, 44-43.
Young finished with 18 points and seven assists for UBC. MacTavish was one of four Guelph players to finish in double figures in scoring. She had 19 points and 16 rebounds, Katelyn Yallin and Van Balkom each had 11 points and Atkinson rounded out the group with 10 points.
"It's going to take some time for us to play the way we think we can play," said Huband. "We have some big additions to our team, as well we have players stepping up into different roles, so these exhibition games will allow us to get accustomed to one another in preparation for regular season play."
The Thunderbirds will be back in action on Saturday when they play host to UBC Okanagan at 4 p.m. at War Memorial Gymnasium.
IMAGE CREDIT: Wilson Wong/UBC Thunderbirds