LANGLEY, British Columbia – The University of Victoria Vikes women's basketball team suffered a heart-breaking 78-70 loss to the Trinity Western Spartains in overtime on Nov. 6 in Langley, B.C. The Vikes now open their season with an 0-1 record despite a 17-point performance from both Hamilton, Ont. natives Amira Giannattasio and Jenna Bugiardini. 

BOX SCORE
 
After the Vikes rallied late in the fourth quarter to tie the game 70-70, the Spartans put up a defensive wall in overtime, as they outscored the Vikes 8-0 in the extra session to pick up their first win over Victoria in just over four years.
 
Tessa Ratzlaff (Abbotsford, B.C.) was the star of the night for the Spartans as she put up career-high 31 points to go with nine rebounds to lead the Spartans. Ratzlaff's 31-point effort equaled the second-best offensive performance in Spartans history. Former Spartan Holly Strom had a 31-point night on Nov. 17, 2012 while Taylor Stuart holds the record of 35 points, which she scored on Nov. 4, 2005 against Regina.
 
Beyond Ratzlaff, the Spartans had four players hit double-digits in scoring, with Kristin Ford (Okotoks, Alta.) collecting 15, Jessie Brown (Langley) adding 12 and Kayla Gordon (Prince George, B.C.) putting in 10. Luca Schmidt had a team-high 11 rebounds.
 
The Vikes responded with both Bugiardini and Giannattasio earning 17 points and Kristy Gallagher adding 13 points. Bugiardini grabbed 11 boards to earn a double-double.
 
TWU held a 40-35 lead at halftime, but saw the Vikes rally in the third quarter to take a 55-54 advantage into the final frame, which set up a tight fourth quarter that ultimately produced overtime.
 
In the first quarter, the teams traded points throughout with both teams shooting better than 50 per cent.  TWU took a two-point lead late to go up 22-20.
 
The second quarter belonged to Ratzlaff as she scored 12 points, including 10 straight for TWU, to help the Spartans to a 40-35 halftime lead. The Spartans shot 52.9 per cent from the field and collected 20 rebounds. The Vikes shot 50 per cent and grabbed 12 rebounds.
 
In the third quarter, Victoria responded, out-scoring the Spartans 20-14 to take a 55-54 lead going into the final 10 minutes.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Spartans took a 70-65 lead with 1:35 to play, but the Vikes didn't quit. Sparked by a pair of Gallagher free throws, Victoria battled back to even the score 70-70. TWU had a chance at the buzzer for the win, but Schmidt's lay-up effort came up just shy.
 
In overtime, Ratzlaff scored the first two points and the Spartans never allowed the Vikes to find the scoreboard. Victoria was zero for seven from the field in overtime while TWU was one for six, but the Spartans hit six of their eight free throws.
 
The Spartans and Vikes will play the back end of their two-game weekend series Saturday at 5 p.m. at the LEC.

SCORING SUMMARY
         1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - OT - F
UVIC: 20-15-20-15 - 0 : 70
TWU: 22-18-14-16 - 8 : 78

SCORING LEADERS
UVIC: Amira Giannattasio (17), Jenna Bugiardini (17), Kristy Gallagher (13)
TWU: Tessa Ratzlaff (31), Kristin Ford (15), Jessie Brown (12)