Just three weeks into the new Canada West basketball season, the UBC Okanagan Heat are on the verge of setting a new standard for the women’s program.
With a pair of home court wins over the Mount Royal Cougars on the weekend, the Heat is off to a best-ever 5-1 start and is now just a win shy of the most CIS victories in a season by a UBCO women’s team.
On Friday night at the Kelowna campus gym, the Heat used tenacious defence to down the Cougars 70-50.
The Heat’s guard play was key to victory for UBC as the home team forced the Cougars into 31 turnovers and snatched 14 steals.
Offensively, Emily Kanester led the Heat for the fourth game in a row with 13 points. Kayla McFadden was the only other UBCO player in double digits, she finished with 10. The balanced scoring was highlighted by all 12 members of the team scoring at least two points.
On Saturday, there was more of the same from the Heat in a convincing 64-42 win.
Leading the way was Claire Elliott and rookie Robyn Auglin-Haynes with nine points each.
Chloe Kennedy added eight points, while Jordon Korol had six points and 10 rebounds.
First-year head coach Claire Meadows is, understandably, pleased with her team’s play and effort less than a month into the 2015-16 Canada West season.
“Our girls always work so hard, so it makes my job easier,” Meadows said. Everyday they are coming in and battling.” . “They know that that kind of competition (in practice) pays off, so I’m very proud at how hard the team competes everyday.”
At 5-1, the Heat share top spot in the Explorer Division with Edmonton’s Grant MacEwan. The two schools will meet head on this weekend in a two-game set in the Alberta capital.
