On the road this weekend for Heat

The UBC Okanagan women's basketball team will play their final two games against Mount Royal this weekend. The two-game series will tip-off in Calgary on Friday night at 5 p.m. (PST) they will close out the set on Saturday at 4 p.m. (PST).

UBC OKANAGAN HEAT (11-8, 6-3 Canada West)
CIS National Ranking: //
CanWest Standings: 3rd - Explorer
Last week (Jan. 8): 1-0 // (Fri W, 48-45) vs TRU
Streak: Win - 1
2014-15 CW Regular Season Record: 6-14
2014-15 CW Playoff Record: /
2014-15 Overall Record: 7-18
Last CW Title/Total CW Titles: NA
Last CIS Title/Total CIS Titles: NA

• SCHEDULE
• ROSTER
• STATS
• STANDINGS

KELOWNA BC- The UBC Okanagan women’s basketball team finished their first weekend of regular season games following the winter break with a win against the Thompson Rivers WolfPack giving them a (6-3) record which has put them back in second place in the Explorer division. The Heat will travel to Calgary to play the Mount Royal Cougars this weekend. The first game of the weekend series will take place on Friday, January 15th with tip off scheduled for 6 p.m. The second game will follow on Saturday January 16th with a start time of 5 p.m.

Key Players - The Heat are continuing to be led by senior Emily Kanester who is averaging 12 points per game making her an offensive threat as  she has an impressive 82.5 % from the free throw line, puttering her in eighth in that category. Second year guard Vanessa Botteselle is a huge factor to points scored for the Heat as she finished the weekend off with a team high of nine points. Third year, Claire Elliott is also putting up stats finishing the previous weekend with five points, eight rebounds, and two steals.

Keys - The Heat are continuing to lead Canada West in steals. The Kelowna squad are averaging 11.4 per game.  In the series against Mount Royal in November, the Heat were able to claim 14 steals in their Friday (20th) game and 13 steals in their Saturday (21st) games against the visiting Cougars. As the Heat were able to keep the Cougars scoring to a minimum in their first series, the Cougars ability to score from the field will pose as a threat at the Cougars average from the field is 33.8 compared to the Heat’s 30.8 percent.

Head to Head -  (6-4) the Heat hold a 6-4 advantage over the Cougars in their Canada West history. The Heat were able to to claim two wins off the Cougars in late November, which was the first time one team was able to sweep the other in a weekend series since Mount Royal's entry into Canada West in 2012-2013.

MOUNT ROYAL COUGARS (2-16, 1-9  Canada West)            
CIS National Ranking: //
CanWest Standings:Tied - 5TH
Last week: 0-2 // (Fri L, 73-58), (Sat L, 64-52) at UFV
Streak: Lost 2
2014-15 CW Regular Season Record: 6-14
2014-15 CW Playoff Record: Did not qualify
2014-15 Overall Record: 6-14
Last CW Title/Total CW Titles: none
Last CIS Title/Total CIS Titles: none

• SCHEDULE
• ROSTER
• STATS
• STANDINGS

Mount Royal Cougars - The Cougars have had a rough start to their second half of their season, losing both their games against Fraser Valley. The Squad be looking for a home court advantage as they host  the Heat this weekend in Calgary at Kenyon Court.

Current Form-  The Cougars go into this game with a 1-9 record and stand last in the division after losing both games on the road against Fraser Valley.

Key Players - Michelle Tiffany finished with a team high of 23 points in the Saturday night game against Fraser Valley and shot (10-11) from the field giving her 90 percent from the field. Tiffany also went (3-3) from the three point line proving her offensive edge and threat from beyond the arch. Angela Driscoll was able to capture a combined 24 points and post Becky Nash finished with a combined 19 points.

preseason preview courtesy of Canadawest.org

Number of new players: 4 // Key Recruits: Michelle Tiffany (G/Calgary, AB/St. Francis HS); Becky Nash (F/Pickering, ON/Saint Mary’s University); Marikah Wright (F/Bellevue, WA/Lane Community College); Katie Waring (G/High River, AB/SAIT)

Number of departing players: 1 // Key Loss: Candice Duckett (F/4)

Key performers: Mount Royal will look to a trio of veterans and two newcomers this season to help lead them to their first ever playoff appearance. Melissa Moore, Angela Driscoll and Drew Knox will return from last season and will form the key leadership group on the Cougars going forward. The veterans will be flanked by two impressive recruits in Michelle Tiffany and Marikah Wright.

Coach Quote: “We are still a group that is getting to know each other. Obviously I’m a new coach and we have a lot of young players but we are trying to make improvements every single day in practice and make sure we get better every time we are on the court to try and be as competitive as possible in everything we do.” – Head Coach Nathan McKibbon

Key storyline: The central focus of the 2015-16 season will be rookie Head Coach Nate McKibbon. McKibbon spent the last 17 seasons coaching in Ontario, most recently with the Canadian Junior Women’s National Team. McKibbon’s experience with analytics and tactics will play a huge role in the success of this young program. His enthusiasm and passion is already rubbing off on the players during the preseason.