Langley, B.C. - The University of Victoria women's basketball team opened its 2024-25 Canada West season with a hard-fought 69-65 victory over Trinity Western University, Oct. 31 at the Langley Events Centre.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Early run gives Vikes lead after 10 minutes of play

• Mimi Sigue scored the first points of the year for the Vikes, making a layup on the first play of the game for the 2-0 Vikes lead.
• Natalie Allison's first points via layup and four-straight points from Abigail Becker off a jumper and two free throws gave Victoria an 8-0 lead two minutes into the game.
• Though the Spartans came back within two, 11-9, the Vikes held Trinity Western scoreless for a two-minute stretch and capitalized, taking a 26-12 lead with two minutes to play in the opening quarter.
• TWU put the final points of the first quarter on the board, but the Vikes held a 28-20 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Vikes force Spartan turnovers to keep the lead at halftime

•  Trinity Western cut the Vikes lead to four to open the second quarter, 29-25, with 7:46 to play. However, two-straight buckets from Makena Anderson put the Vikes back up by eight, 33-25, with 6:49 to go in the second.
• Going back-and-forth over the next three minutes, a quick run by Trinity Western over 45 seconds brought the home side back within one, 35-34. After a Vikes timeout, Sigue immediately scored, putting the Vikes back ahead, 37-34, with 2:25 to play until halftime.
• Forcing an eight second violation on the Spartans, Victoria was able to capitalize with points from Allison for the 39-34 lead with just over a minute left on the clock.
• Though the Vikes forced four-straight TWU turnovers, the score remained 39-34 until a Karis de Paiva free throw with 46 seconds added a point to their lead.
• After a final basket from the Spartans, the Vikes held a 40-36 lead at the half.

Spartans take lead, Vikes get it back at the end of the third

• Opening the third quarter with two-straight baskets, the Spartans tied the game, 40-40, with 7:38 on the clock. TWU would use a 9-0 run to take a 45-40 lead with six minutes to go in the third, until a pair of Avery King free throws broke the Vikes scoring drought, 45-42.
• Jenna Talib brought the Vikes back within two, 47-45, on her second three-pointer of the night with just under three minutes to go in the quarter.
• A put-back from Becker tied the game, 49-49, with 2:10 to play, and another layup from Becker on the Vikes' next trip down the floor put the visiting side back on top, 51-49, with 1:43 to go in the third.
• After some back-and-forth brought the score to 53-53 with 49 seconds to go, a layup from Anderson with 18 seconds to go and block from Becker on the final Spartan shot attempt gave Victoria a 55-53 lead after 30 minutes of action. 

Vikes battle over final quarter to claim the win

• Back and forth for the first half of the quarter, Trinity Western took the lead with four minutes to go. Anderson scored for the Vikes to make it a one-point game, 60-59, with just over three and a half minutes remaining.
• Continuing to trade the lead, a Becker layup was met by a bucket from TWU, leading to the Vikes calling timeout with 50 seconds on the clock and the Spartans ahead, 64-63. Out of the timeout, Allison knocked down a jumper for the 65-64 Vikes advantage, but a free throw from the Spartans tied the game at 65 with 34 seconds to play.
• Fouled on her shot, Sigue was awarded two free throws and made them both, giving the Vikes a two-point lead, 67-65, with 25 seconds to go. Forcing a Trinity Western turnover on their next possession, the Spartans fouled Becker and sent her to the line. Making both her free throws, Becker put the Vikes in front, 69-65, with nine seconds to go.
• Making the final shot attempts by Trinity Western difficult, the Vikes held on for the 69-65 win to open the season.

FROM THE COURT - Head coach Carrie Watts
"Really good to start the season off with a win, especially on the road. We got off to a great start, pushing tempo and creating some offense from our defense. Turnovers plagued us through the middle of the game and TWU capitalized on that. It was a good experience for our young group to come back after being down and get a win on the road. Abigail Becker and Mimi Sigue were once again forces inside, and Makena Anderson had a very efficient night and it was nice to see her get her offense going."

 WORTH NOTING

• Abigail Becker and Makena Anderson led the scoring for the Vikes, each recording 18 points in the win. Anderson led the Vikes with five steals, while Becker tied with Karis de Paiva for a game-high eight rebounds.
• Making her first career start, Natalie Allison recorded six points, two rebounds, and a Vikes-high three assists in 28 minutes on the floor.
• Rookie Jenna Talib also made her first appearance as a Vike, scoring a team-high two three-pointers for six points along with two rebounds in 14 minutes of action.
• The win marks the first season-opening win for the Vikes since the 2019 season, a 97-93 overtime win over UNBC in Prince George, B.C. (Nov. 1).
• The Vikes have now won the last three games against the Spartans, having beat them in both meetings during the 2023-24 season. All three wins have been on TWU's home court.
• Victoria starts the year 1-0, while the Spartans open the season at 0-1.

UP NEXT
The Vikes host Fraser Valley for the first games in CARSA Performance Gym of the year, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. Get your tickets here or catch the game on Canada West TV presented by BioSteel.