UBC Okanagan women’s basketball drop their second regular season game (74-50) to MacEwan University on Friday night in Edmonton.
Friday, November 27th, 2015
City Centre Campus, at MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB
FINAL 1 2 3 4 T UBC Okanagan (5-2) 10 16 15 9 50 MacEwan (6-1) 15 22 20 17 74
Edmonton, AB- The UBC Okanagan women’s basketball team drop their second game of the Canada West regular season (74 -50) in first game of the weekend series against the MacEwan Griffins in Edmonton.
The MacEwan Griffins were eager for their sixth win of the season as the Heat were unable to match the intensity and offensive edge of the Griffins. MacEwan, quick out of the gate, went on a 12-3 run in the first quarter which was enough for the Griffins to maintain the lead until the final buzzer. The Griffins managed to keep this offensive push, going on a (11-4) run in the second and (9-3) run in the fourth to end the game (74-50). MacEwan shot 28 percent from the floor and UBC Okanagan hit for 33 percent in the quarter.
In the second quarter, the tight defense continued by both teams. Midway through the quarter, MacEwan University went on second seven point run to open a double digit lead. Led by Kendall Lydon, a fourth year had a team high 12 points at the break. Senior, Kelly O’Hallahan scored seven points, recorded six rebounds, and three assists in 12 minutes off the bench. Several of O’Hallahan’s rebounds were key to Lydon’s baskets.
The Heat were paced by Vanessa Botteselle (North Vancouver, BC) with a team high nine points off the bench in the first half. UBC Okanagan shot 36 percent in the second quarter compared to the Griffins 39 percent from the floor.
The second half started with MacEwan opening up their lead to 16 points, as the Griffins shot 43 percent from the floor, holding the Heat to 15 points and dominating on defense. MacEwan continue to play a team game, as head coach David Oldham was able to rotate 12 Griffins into the game. Megan Wood, a fifth year Arts major, from Edmonton, AB led the Griffins in the third with nine points.
The Griffins continued to play tenacious defense in the fourth as they held the Heat to nine points, while shooting 43 percent from the floor to close out the 24 point victory over the Heat. The Griffins also were aggressive on the boards capturing 47 rebounds to the Heat’s 27.
Coach Claire Meadows noted “We got out played gave up way too many offensive boards and they executed on a lot of the second chance points”
The second year guard Botteselle led the Heat in scoring with a high of 15 points. Senior, Emily Kanester finished with 13 points and four steals. First year, Robyn Aulin-Haynes also contributed with six points and five rebounds. The Kelowna squads also had 10 of its 12 players make the score sheet. The Heat’s bench were able to assist in capturing half of the team’s points.
Wood led the Griffins with 18 points, Lydon added 14 points. Kelly Fagan, from St. Albert, AB scored six points, blocked seven shots, recorded seven assists and pulled down nine rebounds to be named the Griffins “player of the game.”
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s game, UBC Okanagan head coach, Claire Meadows stated that she will “have to watch some film and see what match ups were more successful than others. I thought we mixed it up well on D [defense] but we have to be way more aggressive on the boards.”
The Heat will be looking for redemption as their record drops to (5-2) giving the Griffins, who improve to 6-1, the top spot in the conference. The weekend series continues tomorrow night in what will be both teams final game before the exam break. Tip off is at 4 p.m. (PST) at the City Centre Campus, at MacEwan University.
MacEwan’s CIS “Shoot for the Cure”
Tonight the MacEwan University Griffins women’s basketball team hosting the CBCF Prairies/NWT Chapter as part of the CIS 9th annual Shoot for the Cure awareness campaign. All proceeds from tonight’s gate will be donated by the school to the foundation.
~ Tia Sadler // Heat Communications
~With notes from David Kent // Griffins Athletics