VICTORIA – The University of Victoria women's basketball team kept it close, but ultimately fell to the University of British Columbia Okanagan, 73-59, in the first game of the new year, Jan. 5 at CARSA Performance Gym.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Though the Heat put the first basket of the game on the board, a layup from Mimi Sigue followed by a steal and fastbreak layup from Tana Pankratz put the Vikes ahead, 3-2, with 7:51 to play in the opening frame.
- Getting her own rebound, Sigue gave the Vikes a 5-3 lead with 6:48 remaining in the first.
- A bucket from Makena Anderson followed by a free throw from Abigail Becker made the score 8-5 for UVic with 4:58 to go in the first.
- Though Sierra Reisig's free throw and Sigue's put-back on the second attempt tied the game at 15-15 with under two minutes to go, the Heat ended the first quarter with the 18-15 lead.
- Becker pulled the Vikes within one with the first basket of the second quarter, 18-17, with 7:14 to go until the half.
- UBCO was able to work its way to a six-point lead, 27-21, but a basket from Sigue brought Victoria within four, 32-29, at the half.
- Bringing the ball up the court, Makena Anderson took the ball to the hoop herself, bringing the Vikes within five, 41-36 with under six minutes to play in the third.
- After the Heat took their first double-digit lead of the night, 51-40, a layup from Joaleah Tupas-Singh made the score 51-42 with 1:10 to go. UBCO held a 52-42 lead after 30 minutes of play.
- UBCO maintained a double-digit lead for most of the fourth quarter, until back-to-back buckets from Pankratz and Sigue brought the Heat's lead down to eight, 67-59, with 39 seconds to play.
- Free throws in the final minute brought the final score to 73-59 in favour of UBCO.
WORTH NOTING
- Sigue led the Vikes with a double-double performance of 17 points and 15 rebounds, both career-highs.
- Pankratz added 13 points and five rebounds in her first game since early November.
- Becker rounded out the double-digit point-scorers for the Vikes with 12 points, adding six rebounds and two blocks for UVic.
- The Vikes move to 0-7 after the loss, while UBCO improves to 5-4 after game one of the series.
UP NEXT
The Vikes and Heat finish out the series tomorrow, Jan. 6 at 5 p.m. at CARSA Performance Gym.