VICTORIA – Sweeping the weekend series, the University of Victoria women's basketball team picked up two wins in convincing fashion over the University of Northern British Columbia, Dec. 3-4. The Vikes picked up the 84-59 win Friday night, followed by an 83-68 win Saturday.

THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH CARRIE WATTS
"You never really know what you're going to get after back-to-back bye weekends, so it was nice to get two wins. We spent a lot of time working on our defence, reinforcing some of the things we want to be focused on from the defensive and rebounding standpoint and then just trying to get our offence going more smoothly. It was nice to see that on both nights. I though we did a really good job with our rebounding, and that's been an area of focus for us.

"It was really nice to see Aleah Ashlee step up big time in both games. Her effort is outstanding- she's crashing the boards hard, making really good decisions offensively, and highlight of the night for us, stepping in and taking three charges in a game. It was a really great team effort- lots of different people in lots of different lineups out there, so we're really happy to head in to the Christmas break with two convincing wins."

Game one: Victoria 84, UNBC 59
December 3, 2021

HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Quarter – UVic 25, UNBC 14

• While UNBC managed to take the first four points of the contest, the Vikes would score the next four to tie, resulting in back-and-forth baskets over the next several minutes between the two sides.
• With just over four minutes to play in the opening frame, UVic would take a 14-12 lead on three-pointer by Sierra Reisig. The Vikes would not relinquish that lead for the remainder of the contest.
• The combination of Tana Pankratz and Calli McMillan would close out the first quarter for the Vikes, with McMillan finding an open Pankratz for a three-pointer, followed by a fast-break layup by McMillan from Pankratz on back-to-back plays for the 25-14 Victoria lead at the end of the first.

2nd Quarter – UVic 45, UNBC 34

• Continuing to expand the Vikes' lead to open the second quarter, Meike Boerstra knocked down a jump shot for her first points of the season for the 31-17 UVic advantage with just under seven minutes to go in the half.
• Remaining in control, the Vikes would hold a double-digit lead for the duration of the quarter.

3rd Quarter – UVic 69, UNBC 46

• The Vikes would open the second half on a 7-0 scoring run with a jumper from Ashlyn Day, a layup from McMillan, and a three-pointer from Aleah Ashlee to put the Vikes ahead, 52-34.
• Growing its lead to 20 points, a Tana Pankratz put-back gave the Vikes a 56-26 lead with 6:45 to play in the quarter.
• Hannah Walline sealed the third quarter scoring for the Vikes, draining a three in the final seconds. While the Timberwolves would add two more points before the buzzer, UVic remained in front, 69-46.

4th Quarter – UVic 84, UNBC 59

• A defensive battle in the final 10 minutes of play, the Timberwolves held the Vikes to just 15 points, the only quarter of the game where the Vikes did not score at least 20 in the frame.
• However, UVic was just as prepared defensively, holding UNBC to 13 points in the final quarter to seal the win, 84-59.

WORTH NOTING

• The Vikes' 84 points matched their season-high points scored total, previously accomplished in an 84-73 win over UBCO, Nov. 5.
• The 25 points mark the largest margin of victory by Victoria since a 68-43 win over UBCO, Jan. 3, 2020.
• Ashlee finished with a season-high 17 points, along with 12 rebounds for her second double-double performance of the season.
• McMillan and Day each tallied 13 points, while Pankratz added 10 to mark four double-digit scoring performances from the Vikes.
• Day added seven assists on the night, a number which matches the most by an individual Vikes player in a game this season (McMillan at UBC, Oct. 30 and vs. UBCO, Nov. 5).

 
Game two: Victoria 83, UNBC 68
December 4, 2021

HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Quarter – UNBC 20, UVic 19

• Victoria opened the game by taking an 8-1 lead, not allowing a bucket to UNBC for over three minutes.
• The Timberwolves would go on a scoring run over the final 2:30 of play, taking a 20-16 lead over the Vikes.
• A three from Ashlyn Day with under 10 seconds remaining in the opening quarter would bring the Vikes' deficit to one, 20-19, at the end of the first.

2nd Quarter – UVic 43, UNBC 30

• A put-back from Aleah Ashlee would put the Vikes ahead, 21-20, in the opening seconds of the second quarter, prompting an 8-0 run for the Vikes.
• After a second-straight Ashlee bucket, Tana Pankratz added a layup while Day followed with a three to put the Vikes in front, 28-20.
• UNBC would respond with a couple quick baskets, pulling within three, 28-25, with just over six minutes to play in the half.
• Pankratz would put an end to the Timberwolves' threat, however, nailing back-to-back three's to force a UNBC timeout with the Vikes in front, 34-25.
• The Vikes would remain in front for the remainder of the quarter, taking a 43-30 lead into the halftime break.

3rd Quarter – UVic 63, UNBC 51

• Sierra Reisig would give UVic its first 20+-point lead of the contest, drilling back-to-back three-pointers for the 62-40 advantage. 
• UNBC would end the third on a run, scoring 11 unanswered points over the last two minutes to make the score 63-51 after 30 minutes of play.

4th Quarter – UVic 83, UNBC 68

• Continuing to re-build its lead, a three from Calli McMillan put UVic back ahead by 20, 75-55, forcing UNBC to take a timeout.
• Subduing any further comeback attempts by the Timberwolves, the Vikes would cruise to the finish line, taking the win in 83-68 fashion.

WORTH NOTING

• Ashlee led the Vikes in scoring for the second-straight night, besting her previous season-high set one night ago with 18 points. Pankratz and Day finished right behind with 17 point each.
• Mimi Sigue recorded her first double-double of the season with an 11-point, 10-rebound effort in the victory.
• UVic's 12 made three-pointers mark the most by the team in a single game so far this season. Day led the way with five, followed by Pankratz with three. McMillan and Reisig each added two.
• With the two wins, the Vikes improve to 4-4 on the season.

UP NEXT
The Vikes return to the court in the new year, rematching with UNBC Jan. 14, 2022 in Prince George, B.C.