A solid defensive performance through the first three quarters propelled the UVic Vikes to a decisive 79-66 win over the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack in women’s Canada West basketball play in Kamloops on Friday night.
Jenna Bugiardini, the only player in Canada West to rank in the top five in both points and rebounds per game, got the Vikes started with eight points in the opening quarter as the visitors built a 29-17 advantage.
Amira Giannattasio and Kamloops native Nicole Karstein caught fire in the second quarter, as the Vikes managed a 50-32 lead at the half. Victoria was up 67-45 after three quarters as the Vikes collared the WolfPack before going deep into the bench for the fourth.
“We got our starters a lot of rest. And I think, for us, that’s important moving forward, not only to get them rest but to find some other people to solidify some other roles,” Vikes coach Dani Sinclair said. “We need to be able to go deeper in order to make a real run.
“We have six weekends in a row of games, so we’re going to have to find ways to get people in. And I thought kids came in off the bench and did a pretty good job.”
Kristy Gallagher came off the bench to lead the Vikes with 17 points, while Giannattasio added 15. Karstein had 12. Bugiardini finished with 11 and, like Karstein and Katie Langdon, added five rebounds.
Krysten Mullen had seven boards for UVic, which improves to 5-4 on the season, and teammate Aleah Ashlee scooped up four rebounds.
Shenise Sigsworth had a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds for the WolfPack, now 2-9.
The two teams meet again today at 5 p.m., followed by the men at 7.
In men’s play Friday, the Vikes rolled to an 86-76 victory to improve to 3-6 on the season while the WolfPack slipped to 5-6.
Grant Sitton went off for 30 points for Victoria as he was red-hot, going 7-of-8 from the three-point line. Scott Kellum and J.J. Hamel-Carey had 18 and 16 points, respectively. Mike Rouault had 15 for TRU and former Oak Bay Bays guard Madhu McConnell had five for the WolfPack.
“They are all really important games for us from here on out. We are fighting to make the playoffs and Thompson Rivers is in that fight as well. It’s about taking it one game at a time and taking care of business,” Vikes coach Craig Beaucamp said.
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