VICTORIA – Completing the season series sweep of the University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria Vikes came away with two wins over its mainland rivals, Feb. 4-5, at CARSA Performance Gym.

Game one: Victoria 67, British Columbia 54
February 4, 2022

HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Quarter – UVic 13, UBC 13

• A quiet opening, nearly one minute of play passed before a basket was scored. UBC would score the first five points of the game, taking an early 5-0 lead.
• The Vikes would find their first points of the game on a three-pointer by Calli McMillan to make the score 5-3 with 7:45 remaining in the opening frame.
• It would be McMillan that pulled the Vikes even at the end of the quarter, sinking a pair of free throws to tie the game, 13-13, at the end of the first.
• The Vikes held UBC scoreless for the final three and a half minutes of the first quarter en route to tying the game.

2nd Quarter – UBC 29, UVic 27

• Back-and-forth to begin the second quarter, UBC would begin to separate itself from the Vikes, taking a 24-20 lead.
• Completing a 5-0 run to take back the lead, Ashlyn Day completed the three-point play on the and-one, giving the Vikes the 25-24 advantage with just under four minutes to play in the half.
• A pair of UBC free throws and a three-pointer gave the Thunderbirds a four-point lead once again, 29-25, with 40 seconds left in the half.
• Two made free throws by Abigail Becker would bring the Vikes within two at the half, 29-27.

3rd Quarter – UVic 48, UBC 39

• Aleah Ashlee knocked down a three to put the Vikes up, 30-29, on the opening possession of the second half.
• Day followed with a driving layup in the next UVic possession for the 32-29 advantage.
• The Vikes ended the third on a 12-0 run, recording 10 points from Day and two from Karsen Look, to take a 48-39 lead into the final frame.

4th Quarter – UVic 67, UBC 54

• While the Vikes would keep their lead steady for the start of the quarter, a Thunderbirds three and subsequent free throw would bring the visiting side within six, 55-49, halfway through the final quarter.
• Swiping the ball back, McMillan's steal and breakaway layup restored the Vikes' lead to nine, 58-49.
• UVic would cruise to the final buzzer, sealing the win, 67-54.

WORTH NOTING

• Day's 42 points are the most scored by any Canada West player in a single game this season. The 42 points tie for seventh in all-time single-game points scored in Canada West history, tying with Victoria's Carol Turney (Feb. 11, 1978 vs. Saskatchewan). The Kelowna, B.C. native is also just the third Vikes women's basketball player to tally a 40-point performance, joining Turney and Amira Giannattasio (2018).
• Day's final stat line included 42 points, nine rebounds, one assist, and four steals in 35 minutes of play.
• McMillan tallied 14 points in the win, grabbing four rebounds and tallying a team-high five assists.
• Although just notching one point, Mimi Sigue made her presence known on the court, grabbing nine rebounds, three steals, and tallying one assist.
• The Vikes and Thunderbirds combined for 56 turnovers in the contest, with UVic recording 32 and UBC at 24.

 
Game two: Victoria 82, British Columbia 69
February 5, 2022

HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Quarter – UBC 26, UVic 20

• Calli McMillan got the scoring started, swiping the ball and scoring a fastbreak layup for a 2-0 Vikes lead.
• Six-straight points in response from the Thunderbirds would give the visitors a 6-2 lead.
• UBC would extend its lead to 19-13 lead at first media timeout with just under five minutes to play.
• Staying in striking distance, the Vikes would trail UBC, 26-20, after the first 10 minutes of play.

2nd Quarter – UVic 42, UBC 40

• Clawing back to start the second half, Nicole Torozan would bring the Vikes within one, 28-27, by way of a three-pointer with just under seven minutes to go in the half.
• Meike Boerstra gave UVic the lead with a bucket, 29-28, forcing a UBC timeout.
• Despite the Thunderbirds going ahead, 32-29 after the timeout, the Vikes would go on a 9-0 run to take a 38-32 lead.
• Going basket-for-basket over the final two minutes of the half, the Vikes would hold a slim, 42-40 lead at the break.

3rd Quarter – UVic 64, UBC 52

• It would be nearly a minute and a half before either team put points on the board. UBC knocked down a three to take a 43-42 lead with 8:30 to play.
• Retaking the lead, the Vikes would hold a steady, four-point advantage, until Ashlyn Day drained a three for the 53-46 UVic lead, forcing a UBC timeout.
• Victoria would close the third on an 11-2 run, holding a 64-50 lead after 30 minutes of play.

4th Quarter – UVic 82, UBC 69

• Right out of the gate, Aleah Ashlee would complete the three-point play for a 67-52 Vikes lead.
• A quick three from McMillan and subsequent full-court layup from Day gave UVic a 74-59 lead, forcing a UBC timeout.
• Day gave the Vikes its first 20-point lead of the night on a put-back, and-one play for three points, 81-61, with four minutes remaining.
• On auto-pilot to the end, the Vikes sealed the win with a score of 82-69.

WORTH NOTING

• With the win, the Vikes improve to 8-4 on the season, and have won the last six-straight contests.
• The Vikes secured the series sweep over the Thunderbirds, winning all three matchups against UBC during the 2021-22 season.
• Day led the Vikes with 22 points, also adding five rebounds, three assists, and two wins following her record-setting 42-point performance one night ago.
• McMillan also finished with a double-digit point total, totalling 16, including three three-pointers.
• Ashlee claimed a team-high seven rebounds, while also recording 10 points and two assists.
• Vikes Head Coach Carrie Watts, a national champion player for the Thunderbirds, UBC Hall of Fame inductee, and former UBC assistant coach, has posted three wins over her alma mater this season.

UP NEXT
The Vikes will host Thompson Rivers University next Friday, Feb. 11, followed by a Saturday matchup with the University of Fraser Valley, Feb. 12. Both games will be at CARSA Performance Gym.