WBB: Balanced attack sends Dinos to quarter-final
March 5, 2022
CALGARY - Behind a well-balanced performance, the University of Calgary Dinos women's basketball team powered to a 70-58 win over the University of Victoria in a Canada West Second Round contest Saturday afternoon from the Jack Simpson Gym.
Freshman Pollyanna Storie had the hot hand early and finished with 13 points and five rebounds, while transfer Veronika Lavergne had the steady hand down the stretch, also tallying 13 points to go with six boards and a game-high four blocks.
Recent Canada West All-Rookie honouree Annacy Palmer stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and five steals, while fellow newcomer Amelie Collin also finished in double figures with 10 points.
First Team All-Star Ashlyn Day led the way for the Vikes with a game-high 24 points, keeping her team close the entire second half where she netted 15 of her points.
"We knew it was going to be a physical battle," Vikes head coach Carrie Watts said. "It is always interesting to play a team that you haven't seen all year - we haven't seen them in two years - so there is a bit of a feeling-out period in the first quarter to see how you match up with them. We struggled a little bit offensively and finding our rhythm. They did a good job putting some pressure and forcing us to play a little further away from the hoop than we wanted. Their defence impacted our ability to execute so hats off to them for that."
After UVic started the game up 10-5, the Dinos responded with a nice run. Storie connected on a pair of triples, while Palmer drilled another just before the end of the first, giving Calgary their first lead of the day at 15-13 after one.
Another three-pointer - this time by Collin - late in the second gave the Dinos their biggest lead of the half at 28-20. The Vikes were finally able to heat up after a cold-shooting half, as a layup by Day and a three from Calli McMillan made it a two-point game at the break at 28-26.
Calgary started the second half on an 11-2 run, as Sydney Milum's lay-in with 6:05 left pushed the lead to the largest of the game at 39-28.
That's when Day shined brightest, stepping up her game and taking over the paint. The Kelowna product scored seven points, had a steal and an assist in just over three minutes to will her team back within four late in the third.
But, Victoria's cold shooting and Calgary's clutch moments down the stretch sealed this one for the Dinos.
"In the game within the game, we're trending in a good direction," Dinos head coach Damien Jennings said. "We've been a team with some spells of some really fun basketball to watch, and then we have a habit of having a bit of a lull. It's been one of those seasons. But, today we were just a little bit more solid. Anytime they came back at us, we were able to rectify just a little bit faster than in previous games.
"That has been our story. I think we're one of the most improved teams in the division, if not the whole conference. The lessons have been aggressive and that's what happens when you have a group that's so new. I think it's the mentality and how the learning has gone and literally in 24 hours they have been able to change things and transform things.
"We're just super pumped and excited to be playing in the next round with the new group that we have."
Calgary finished the game shooting 41-percent (25-61), while UVic couldn't find its rhythm and connected on just 29-percent of its shots (20-69) for the game.
With the win, the Dinos now advance to Sunday's quarter-final contest against top-seeded Saskatchewan, scheduled for a 1 p.m. start from the Jack Simpson Gym.
Freshman Pollyanna Storie had the hot hand early and finished with 13 points and five rebounds, while transfer Veronika Lavergne had the steady hand down the stretch, also tallying 13 points to go with six boards and a game-high four blocks.
Recent Canada West All-Rookie honouree Annacy Palmer stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and five steals, while fellow newcomer Amelie Collin also finished in double figures with 10 points.
First Team All-Star Ashlyn Day led the way for the Vikes with a game-high 24 points, keeping her team close the entire second half where she netted 15 of her points.
"We knew it was going to be a physical battle," Vikes head coach Carrie Watts said. "It is always interesting to play a team that you haven't seen all year - we haven't seen them in two years - so there is a bit of a feeling-out period in the first quarter to see how you match up with them. We struggled a little bit offensively and finding our rhythm. They did a good job putting some pressure and forcing us to play a little further away from the hoop than we wanted. Their defence impacted our ability to execute so hats off to them for that."
After UVic started the game up 10-5, the Dinos responded with a nice run. Storie connected on a pair of triples, while Palmer drilled another just before the end of the first, giving Calgary their first lead of the day at 15-13 after one.
Another three-pointer - this time by Collin - late in the second gave the Dinos their biggest lead of the half at 28-20. The Vikes were finally able to heat up after a cold-shooting half, as a layup by Day and a three from Calli McMillan made it a two-point game at the break at 28-26.
Calgary started the second half on an 11-2 run, as Sydney Milum's lay-in with 6:05 left pushed the lead to the largest of the game at 39-28.
That's when Day shined brightest, stepping up her game and taking over the paint. The Kelowna product scored seven points, had a steal and an assist in just over three minutes to will her team back within four late in the third.
But, Victoria's cold shooting and Calgary's clutch moments down the stretch sealed this one for the Dinos.
"In the game within the game, we're trending in a good direction," Dinos head coach Damien Jennings said. "We've been a team with some spells of some really fun basketball to watch, and then we have a habit of having a bit of a lull. It's been one of those seasons. But, today we were just a little bit more solid. Anytime they came back at us, we were able to rectify just a little bit faster than in previous games.
"That has been our story. I think we're one of the most improved teams in the division, if not the whole conference. The lessons have been aggressive and that's what happens when you have a group that's so new. I think it's the mentality and how the learning has gone and literally in 24 hours they have been able to change things and transform things.
"We're just super pumped and excited to be playing in the next round with the new group that we have."
Calgary finished the game shooting 41-percent (25-61), while UVic couldn't find its rhythm and connected on just 29-percent of its shots (20-69) for the game.
With the win, the Dinos now advance to Sunday's quarter-final contest against top-seeded Saskatchewan, scheduled for a 1 p.m. start from the Jack Simpson Gym.