Feb. 20-22: Victoria Vikes vs Calgary Dinos (McKinnon Gym, Victoria)
By Elizabeth Chan, Vikes Communications
VICTORIA, B.C. – The University of Victoria Vikes women's basketball team wrapped up their regular season with a home sweep of the Trinity Western Spartans, Feb. 13-14, and ended with a 13-7 record. Finishing fifth in the Pioneers Division gave the Vikes hosting rights for the best-of-three play-in series this weekend, Feb. 20-22, against the Calgary Dinos (9-11). Winners of this weekend's play-in series move on to the conference quarter-finals to face Thompson Rivers, Feb. 27-Mar. 1.
Vikes graduating seniors Jessica Renfrew and Cassandra Goodis topped the scoresheet in their last regular season games with Goodis successfully breaking the UVic all-time steals record to now sit second overall in the Canada West for all-time steals. The Pentiction native had also broken the all-time career assists in the conference the week before.
Renfrew has so far led the team's offence in the second half of the season. Currently, the Victoria native averages 16.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 26.7 minutes played per game. Last Friday, the Claremont Secondary graduate logged 33 points in one game, this came following her career-high 36 points earlier in the season on Jan. 16.
Depth has started to show itself for the young Vikes team as several have come off the bench to become game changers. Rookie Amira Giannattasio, known for her outside shooting, recorded a season-high 31 points on Feb. 14, and at 42.9 per cent from beyond the arc, currently ranks third in the conference for three pointers.
Third year Jenna Bugiardini is the second highest scorer for the Vikes, averaging 15.2 points per game, and backs both ends of the court leading an average 6.6 rebounds per game. The depth of the team wouldn't be without six-foot-one Nicole Karstein averaging 5.0 rebounds per game. Contributions from Shaylyn Crisp, Jenna Krug and Amy Sprangers are also relied upon regularly.
The Dinos will be heading into the weekend play-in series hoping to find redemption after suffering two-straight on the road losses to the Saskatchewan Huskies. Calgary will look to fourth years Kelsey Lund and Claire Colborne, who both lead in scoring for the Dinos. Lund also averages 6.3 rebounds per game while Colborne has averaged pulling down 4.6 rebounds per game.
Dinos veteran Kristie Sheils sits behind Victoria's Giannattasio in three-point shooting percentage in the conference and was the lead scorer for Calgary on Feb. 14, totaling 15 points on the score sheet. Calgary's Jessica Thielen is second on her team in rebounds with an average of 5.0.
The Vikes and Dinos tip off on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. PST, with a possible third game on Sunday set for 2 p.m. Winners of this weekend will travel to Thompson Rivers for the Canada West quarter-finals, also a best-of-three series, on Feb. 27-Mar. 1. All games this weekend will be broadcast with live video and stats at uvic.canadawest.tv.
Note: Playoff ticket pricing is in effect. For ticket information click here.http://govikesgo.com/tickets