Box Score VICTORIA – The University of Victoria Vikes women's basketball team will be forced to Game 3 in the best-of-three Canada West quarter-final series hosted by the Thompson Rivers WolfPack in Kamloops, B.C. In Game 2 the Vikes suffered a 97-86 over-time loss to the WolfPack in a back-and-forth competitive battle.
 
"I thought we did a good job of taking the lead in the game but we made some bad decisions and let the momentum swing," said Dani Sinclair, Vikes women's basketball head coach, about what happened late in the first half and into the second. "We can't let that happen in someone else's gym.  We have to play smarter if we want a chance to put them away."
 
Vikes senior Jessica Renfrew led with a team-high 26 points and six steals, while third year Jenna Bugiardini put back 24 points and logged nine boards. Fifth-year point guard and Canada West Second Team All-Star Cassandra Goodis contributed with 16 points and nine assists.
 
Thompson Rivers saw their leadership come from third year Kassie Colonna who recorded a career high 35 points and seven rebounds. Fourth year Taiysa Worsfold logged 23 points and five assists. First year Emma Piggin was the lone double-double scorer for the WolfPack, nabbing 16 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Senior and conference first team all-star Jorri Duxbury added 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.
 
The Vikes battled hard to maintain a slight advantage in the first half as Renfrew got on the board with 14 points and three steals in the opening quarter. The tempo was back and forth much like the previous night, with both teams exchanging baskets. At the end of the first quarter, the Vikes came away with a 21-19 lead.
 
Victoria increased their lead to double-digits midway through the second quarter with Bugiardini paving the way offensively. Renfrew opened second-quarter scoring with a three-pointer and then sank a two to give the visitors a 17-point lead. It was all too easy as Thompson Rivers retaliated back with a 9-0 run in the last half of the second quarter to trim Victoria's lead. At halftime, the Vikes led 40-34.
 
The third quarter proved to be a challenge for the Vikes as Thompson Rivers' Colonna scored 13 points in the frame to help the home side out-score the Vikes 29-25. The six-foot-two forward was relentless under the hoop as she scored six baskets in the paint. The WolfPack managed to continue to chip away at Victoria's lead trailing just 65-63 entering the final quarter.
 
Fourth-year Vike Shaylyn Crisp helped the visiting team expand their leading-margin after nailing her second-straight three-pointer in the early get-going. Both teams were neck-and-neck as the last few minutes of the game was drawn out with time outs and fouls. Those resulting free throws were crucial as the Vikes made several free throws to stretch their lead in the dying minutes. In true playoff fashion, Thompson Rivers' Worsfold landed a three with three seconds left on the clock to even the teams 82-82 and send the game to over time.
 
Home court advantage was evident in the late moments as Thompson Rivers out-scored the Vikes 15-4 in over time. The WolfPack had a 9-0 run in the extra period to secure the 97-86 victory. Rookie Piggin made two key baskets, while Victoria's Bugiardini and Jenna Krug were the lone Vikes to score within the five-minute period.
 
Both teams will square off again tomorrow, Feb. 28, in Game 3 of the quarter-final series. The winner will move on to the semifinals against Saskatchewan with a secured spot in the Canada West Final Four and a shot at qualifying for the CIS Final 8. Game 3 of this series is set for 5 p.m. tomorrow with live broadcast and stats at canadawest.tv.
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
TRU: 19-15-29-19-15: 97
UVIC: 21-19-25-17-4: 86
 
SCORING LEADERS:
TRU: Kassie Colonna (35), Taiysa Worsfold (23), Emma Piggin (16), Jorri Duxbury (15)
UVIC: Jessica Renfrew (26), Jenna Bugiardini (24), Cassandra Goodis (16)