VICTORIA, B.C. – The University of Victoria Vikes women's basketball team silenced the CIS No. 8-ranked Regina Cougars, 89-69, in game one of their Canada West home-opening double header. Four Vikes shot in double digits in the Halloween game on Oct. 31 at McKinnon Gym in Victoria.
 
Fifth year Jessica Renfrew led all Vikes with 21 points, while third year Jenna Bugiardini totaled 19 points. Senior Cassandra Goodis was the guard behind the magic totaling 12 assists and seven points. Rookie Amira Giannattasio impressed in her debut with 13 points, while Nicole Karstein chipped in with 10.
 
Rookie Christina McCusker was the top scorer for the Cougars totaling 19 points, while third years Charlotte Kot and Katie Polischuk each had 12. Fourth year forward Alyssia Kajati pulled down nine boards, while the Cougars had 23 turnovers and needed 32 points from their bench.
 
"We shot the ball really well tonight but we still have to do a better job defensively," said Dani Sinclair, Vikes women's basketball head coach. "We still allowed almost 70 points and they are an experienced and tough team. They know exactly what it takes to bounce back. We can't remain content."
 
It was a tale of two quarters in the opening half as Regina out-scored the Vikes 20-13 in the opening frame, while the Vikes out-scored the Cougars 31-17 in the second. In the opening quarter Regina impressed early draining three shots from distance to shoot 41 per cent from the field. The Vikes also converted three shots from beyond the arc but seemed to get off to a bit of a slow start. Regina held an 11-point lead at one point in the first quarter.
 
In the second quarter the Vikes turned things around and went on a 10-0 run that was sparked by the scoring efforts of Bugiardini. Back-to-back buckets from the former CIS All-Rookie member got the Vikes square with Regina at 25 each. Following a sequence of smooth plays between Claremont grads Renfrew, Goodis and Shaylyn Crisp the Vikes were able to extend a lead by as much as eight.
 
Polischuk was dominant in the first half for the visitors, scoring 11 points, while McCusker was perfect from the field to total 10 points. Polischuk was three-for-six in three-point shots, while the Cougars logged 11 turnovers and 17 points from their bench. The Vikes, who managed to find a way to deal with the heights of six-foot-three Jennilea Coppola and six-foot McCusker, had a 13-point half from senior Renfrew. Goodis had nine assists, while Bugiardini totaled 10 points.
 
It was all Vikes in the third as the hot hands of Renfrew, Bugiardini and first year Giannattasio gave them 31 points in the quarter. The Vikes showed their versatility to score in the post and from distance (9-for-22). Regina's scoring was largely in the hands of Kot and McCusker who totaled the majority of the Cougars' 15 third-quarter points. Senior Renfrew totaled four three pointers entering the final frame.
 
Regina found their strides in the fourth out-scoring the home team 17-14 but Vikes head coach Sinclair's squad held a 25-point lead at one point, allowing her room to rotate in her entire bench. The Cougars conceded 23 turnovers to Victoria's 15, allowing 22 of the Vikes' points came from Regina turnovers. The Vikes improved to 1-0 in the season after the 89-69 win over Regina (0-1).
 
"It was a good team effort tonight," added Sinclair. "Our experienced players Jess, Nicole Karstein and Jenna all shot the ball well but that wouldn't happen without the play making from Cass. We also had a good performance from Shaylyn and we had Amira and Amy Sprangers come off the bench with some good stats. We don't win the way we just did without them."
 
The Vikes and Cougars will rematch tomorrow, Nov. 1, for the second game of this Pioneers Division double header. The teams will tip off at 5 p.m. at McKinnon Gym with the game being broadcast with live video and stats at uvic.canadawest.tv.
 
 
SCORING SUMMARY
REG: 20-17-15-17: 69
UVIC: 13-31-31-14: 89
 
SCORING LEADERS
REG: Christina McCusker (19), Charlotte Kot (12), Katie Polischuk (12)
UVIC: Jess Renfrew (21), Jenna Bugiardini (19), Amira Giannattasio (13)