VICTORIA, B.C. – The University of Victoria Vikes women's basketball team had all cylinders firing as they dropped the CIS No. 8-ranked Regina Cougars for the second-straight night. The Vikes came away with an 80-64 win to now improve their Canada West record 2-0 at McKinnon Gym, while Regina fall to 0-2.
First-year guard Amira Giannattasio came off the bench to score a game-high 21 points, all amassed from her seven three pointers made. Third year Jenna Bugiardini highlighted the stats sheet with 12 points and eight rebounds. SeniorCassandra Goodis had 10 points and 13 assists in the game as the Vikes were 14-for-30 from the perimeter.
The Cougars had four players shoot in double digits including Charlotte Kot with a team-high 19 points and Jennilea Coppola and Alyssa Kajati each with 13. Kot totaled seven rebounds, while Coppola pulled down six. Katie Polischuk finished the night with 11 points after nailing three treys but the Cougars could not keep up with the perimeter shooting of Victoria.
It was an exciting opening half as the Vikes and Cougars traded runs that included six three pointers for the home side. Regina's Polischuk sparked a quick 9-0 run but Victoria returned the pain moments later when Goodis nailed a shot from distance and rookie Giannattasio came off the bench to hit two long bombs. The Vikes finished the first quarter knocking back six of 11 three-point attempts and taking a 25-21 lead entering the second.
Contributions from Coppola and Kot kept the visitors in check throughout the opening half. Third year Kot finished the half with a team-high 13 points, while the Vikes were led by first year Giannattasio, who had 12 points after going 4-for-7 from distance.
By half time the Vikes were 8-for-13 from beyond the arc and fifth-year point guard Goodis had nine assists. All eight players that hit the court for the Vikes got on the board, while Regina were heavily lead by Kot and Katie Polischuk.
The third quarter was a bit of a different story as the Vikes led by as much as 13 in the second and the Cougars came all the way back to trail 52-50 with Coppola doing a lot of damage in the paint. Goodis finally silenced the Cougars' 17-6 third-quarter run with an uncontested three. The score was back to 55-50 for the Vikes and Giannattasio buried her fifth three eventually sending the Vikes to a 60-52 score line entering the fourth.
The Cougars had troubles getting the ball to drop in their offensive end, scoring only one three-point shot by Polischuk in the first 5 minutes of the fourth. Meanwhile, three pointers from Shaylyn Crisp and Giannattasio, her sixth and seventh of the game, kept Victoria in the lead, 72-55, midway through the last quarter.
Tough defence and the hot scoring hands of the Vikes allowed an 80-64 win for the home team.
Next weekend, Nov. 7-8, Victoria (2-0) will play their mainland rivals, the UBC Thunderbirds, for a double header. Friday's game will tip off at 6 p.m., while Saturday will start at 5 p.m. The Cougars (0-2) will return home to host Manitoba for a pair of games, also on Nov. 7-8. Games will be broadcast live at http://canadawest.tv.
SCORING SUMMARY
REG: 21-14-17-12 : 64
UVIC: 25-21-14-20 : 80
SCORING LEADERS
REG: Charlotte Kot (19), Jennilea Coppola (13), Alyssia Kajati (13)
UVIC: Amira Giannattasio (21), Jenna Bugiardini (12), Shaylyn Crisp (10)
by Ali Lee, Vikes Communications (govikesgo.com)
Photo: APShutter.com