In their final regular season game of the 2011-12 campaign, the University of Victoria Vikes women's basketball team needs to win to clinch a playoff spot against the No. 4 nationally ranked UBC Thunderbirds on Friday Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. at Ken & Kathy Shields Court at McKinnon Gymnasium.

LIVE VIDEO AND STATS / CANADA WEST MEDIA NOTES

If UVic wins this game, they advance to the best-of-three Canada West quarter-final series  in Saskatoon against the No. 3 nationally ranked Saskatchewan Huskies (15-4).

After outplaying UBC in the first 13 minutes, UVic fell apart after getting into foul trouble in last Friday's 83-66 loss to the Thunderbirds in Vancouver, setting up the Feb. 17 must-win scenario. The Vikes will need consistent play over 40 minutes to defeat the No. 4 ranked squad which sits at 14-3. UBC has very little to play for with the first-place spot in the Pacific Division already locked up and no chance to clinch the conference title (Regina has done that already as they enter their final game with a 19-0 record).

While Friday night's game is of paramount importance in the standings, it is also a crucial game for off-floor efforts in raising awareness and funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Teaming up with the local Victoria branch and media partners Kool FM and CTV Vancouver Island, proceeds from the game will be donated to the CBCF as part of the national Shoot for the Cure initiative. (READ MORE)

UVic is led offensively by #Debbie Yeboah# of Winnipeg. The fourth-year guard is third in the conference averaging 15.5 points per game this season and is second in the Canada West in free-throw shooting percentage, going 47-for-54 for a 87 per cent efficiency from the charity stripe. #Cassandra Goodis# of Penticton, B.C., enters Friday's game with 5.4 assists per game, good for fourth overall in the Canada West, an impressive 1.4 assist to turnover ratio, third best in the conference. #Allison Mulock# of North Vancouver, B.C., is fourth in the conference in three-point percentage, going 20-for-46 for a 43.5 per cent rating.

Meanwhile the Thunderbirds have had great production from two top players - Kristjana Young, who is averaging 15.2 points and 4.6 assists per game, and Zara Huntley, putting up 13.9 points and a league best 1.5 shot blocks per contest. UBC's roster features four senior players - two in their fifth year - and an outstanding rookie in Cassandra Knievel of Nanaimo, B.C. Huntley, a Halifax native who will graduate after this season, enters this game second in the Canada West career rankings with 151 shot blocks but will not catch Simon Fraser's Julia Wilson who registered 221 in her career from 2002-2007. Former Vike Kristen Hughes is on the UBC roster, averaging 9.6 points per game, starting in all 17 contests.

UBC also boasts the best defence in the conference, surrendering just 57.4 points against per game this season. They also have the fifth-best offence, averaging 71.7 points per game, just behind UVic which is averaging 71.8 points per game.

The Thunderbirds are 6-2 on the road this season and have won their past two games and 10 of their past 11. UBC has also defeated UVic in nine of the past 11 meetings.

The Vikes are 3-5 at home this season and need to be much better in the second half, especially the fourth quarter. Despite enjoying a 1221-1129 scoring advantage against their opponents in conference play, UVic is being outscored in the second half, 304-294 in the fourth quarter alone.

SENIORS NIGHT
Following the game, the Vikes will honour graduating forward #Natalie Janssens# of Surrey, B.C., who played with the blue and gold for three seasons (2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12). The post made her return to the Vikes lineup for this, her final season, and UVic has benefitted from her commitment and determination. Playing valuable minutes off the bench, Janssens is averaging 2.9 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per contest in her final season along with a career-high 11 blocked shots. The Social Sciences student enters her final home contest in three seasons with the Vikes with 177 points, 192 rebounds and 25 blocks.

PROJECTED STARTING FIVE
UBC - 06 Kris Young / 12 Zara Huntley / 13 Alex Vieweg / 01 Kristen Hughes / 15 Leigh Stansfield
UVIC - 06 Debbie Yeboah / 04 Jessica Renfrew / 15 Chelsea McMullen / 08 Cassandra Goodis / 12 Sarah Semeniuk

PLAYOFF PICTURE
If UVic wins Friday night, they will travel to face the Saskatchewan Huskies in the best-of-three Canada West quarter-final series with games Feb. 24, Feb. 25 and, if necessary, Feb. 26, with all games at 6:15 p.m. (4:15 p.m. PST).

Winners of the Canada West quarter-final series advance to the Canada West Final 4, March 2-3, hosted by the highest remaining team.

All basketball games will have live video and stats via http://canadawest.tv.