Langley, B.C. – Erasing a 17-point deficit, the University of Victoria women's basketball team opened the two-game series at Trinity Western University with a 78-74 victory over the Spartans, Jan. 12 at the David E. Enarson Gym.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Vikes' first four points of the game came via Sierra Reisig free throws, bringing the score even at 4-4 with 7:23 to go in the opening frame.
• Trinity Western finished the first quarter on a 16-6 run until a three by Tegan MacKinnon put the final points of the quarter on the board, reading 27-13 for TWU.
• Going on a run to open the second quarter, the Vikes used an 18-3 advantage, capped by a Tana Pankratz layup, to take their first lead of the night, 31-30 with 5:57 remaining in the half.
• Jumpers from Abigail Becker, Karis de Paiva, and two from Reisig gave the Vikes their largest lead of the night, 39-34, with 3:37 until halftime.
• Outscoring the Spartans 28-15 in the second quarter, a Mimi Sigue jumper brought the score to 42-41 in favour of TWU at the end of the first half.
• A three by Pankratz opened the third quarter scoring, putting the Vikes in front 44-42 with 9:30 to play.
• Trading baskets with TWU over the next five minutes, Makena Anderson's three put the Vikes ahead 54-51 with under five minutes to play in the third quarter.
• Though the Spartans regained the lead in the final minutes, a Sigue layup with under 10 seconds left on the clock brought the third quarter score to 63-59 for Trinity Western.
• Cutting in to TWU's lead in the fourth quarter, a free throw by Becker, Pankratz layup and Anderson three pulled the Vikes within one, 68-67, forcing a Spartans timeout with 4:43 to go.
• Regaining the lead, a three from Anderson and two-straight Pankratz layups put Victoria head, 76-74 with 59 seconds to play.
• Fouled with three seconds on the clock, Sigue nailed both her free throw shots to finalize the Vikes' win, 78-74. 

WORTH NOTING

• The Vikes held the Spartans scoreless for the final 2:30 of the game.
• Anderson led the Vikes with a season-high 24 points, going 6-for-9 from beyond the arc. She added six rebounds and three steals for the Vikes in the win.
• Sigue nearly recorded a double-double with 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
• Pankratz recorded a season-high 14 points in the win, adding eight rebounds, three steals, one assist.
• The Vikes improve to 2-7 with the win, while the Spartans move to 8-3 with the loss.

UP NEXT
The Vikes and Spartans close the series tomorrow, Jan. 13 at 4 p.m.