VANCOUVER - The UVic Vikes women's basketball team moved a game closer to clinching a homecourt playoff berth after toppling the no. 9 UBC Thunderbirds 72-71 at War Memorial Gymnasium.

BOXSCORE

The no. 7 Vikes improved to 12-4 on the season, and built a two-game lead over UBC for the second seed in the Pacific Division. Another UVic win on Saturday would bring a best-of-three playoff series to McKinnon Gym February 25-27.

#Kayla Dykstra# dominated in the victory. The CIS Player of the Year finished with a game high 26 points on 11-14 shooting, and also collected 12 'boards. Dykstra erupted for 18 points in the first half, and when the double teams arrived in the second, she opened up the game for the Vikes outside shooters.

#Kristen Hughes# set a new career high with an 18-point effort and #Debbie Yeboah# scored nine points in the second half to finish with 15, but it was reserve guard #Jane Anholt# who made the biggest basket of the night. Anholt scored the go-ahead basket on a lay-up, with just 31 seconds left on the clock to give the Vikes the lead for good.

The lead changed hands 14 times. UBC led by as many as nine points, coming early in the third quarter.

UBC forward Alex Vieweg led the home side with 21 points on 10-of-16 shooting, and Lia St. Pierre chipped in 14 points. Fifth-year guard Candace Morisset added a game-high nine assists,

The two long-time rivals will conclude the season series Saturday night at War Memorial. A Vikes win will clinch second place in the Pacific division. Tip-off is 8 p.m.