Elimination night is always the most bitter in any sport.
“I told the returning players to remember this moment and to not forget it as they fight through training over the summer,” said University of Victoria Vikes women’s basketball head coach Dani Sinclair.
The Vikes season ended Friday on the Prairies.
The University of Regina Cougars defeated UVic 80-61 to sweep their best-of-three Canada West playoff quarter-final series 2-0.
Amira Giannattasio, the third leading scorer in Vikes team history, ended her spectacular career with 10 points.
“Amira was one of the best Vikes players ever and her legacy and impact will not be forgotten,” said Sinclair.
“It’s sad to see Amira and Paige [fellow graduating fifth-year Paige Thomson] go.”
Aleah Ashlee led the Vikes with 20 points Friday. Kyanna Giles paced the Cougars with 18 points.
UVic led 19-17 after the first quarter and Regina 33-30 at the half. But a 22-10 third-quarter advantage sealed the deal for the Cougars.
It was almost a direct replay of Game 1 on Thursday night when UVic led by two points at halftime before the Cougars went on a 24-2 run in the third quarter to break the game open and demolish the Vikes 71-51.
“It was the third quarter again. And again it came down to rebounding,” said Sinclair.
“We didn’t box out, and as a result, let Regina go on big runs in the second half. And when you get behind like that, you put yourself under a lot of pressure by having to score on nearly every possession.”
That’s not easy to do against a Cougars team that was 17-3 in the regular season and is ranked No. 6 nationally in the U Sports top-10 poll.
The Vikes were 12-8 in the regular season and defeated the Fraser Valley Cascades 80-61 in the single-game first-round conference playoff last weekend at CARSA gym.
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