VICTORIA - One of the nation’s top five teams will see their season come to a premature finish this weekend when the no.5 UVic Vikes women’s basketball team battles for a Canada West Final Four berth with the no. 3 Saskatchewan Huskies at McKinnon Gym.
GAME INFORMATION
Thurs. Feb. 25 vs. Saskatchewan (McKinnon Gym) - 7pm
Fri. Feb. 26 vs. Saskatchewan (McKinnon Gym) – 7pm
Sat. Feb. 27 vs. Saskatchewan (McKinnon Gym) – 7pm (if nec.)
BROADCAST INFO:
All Vikes home games are broadcast online, with streaming video and audio commentary:
SCOUTING THE VIKES (14-4)
On February 13th,
Debbie Yeboah’s buzzer beater snapped SFU’s 54-game win streak and improved the Vikes’ winter semester record to 10-1. Relieving the double team pressure off of reigning CIS MVP
Kayla Dykstra, Yeboah has posted game high scoring stats in seven of their 18 games including a career-high 32 points against UBC. With perimeter shooting stretching defences thin, Dykstra has been unstoppable in the paint averaging 15.3 p/g and 9.3 r/g. Led by Dykstra and
Vanessa Forstbauer, the Vikes boast the conference’s top defensive-rebounding unit.
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES (14-6)
A menacing Huskies’ roster, with McMaster transfer Lindsay DeGroot as its focal point, is ranked third in the national polls despite finishing behind divisional opponents Regina (16-4) and Alberta (15-5) this season. DeGroot leads her squad in shooting (18.8p/g), rebounding (8.5/g) and assists (4.1/g) and the Thedford, Ont. native has posted seven double-doubles and was the Huskies top-scorer in 14 of their 20 outings this season.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Vikes will rely heavily on their third-ranked scoring defence (59.4p/g) when they take on DeGroot, Canada West’s second highest offensive contributor. Their defence was key to the Vikes’ November 14th 58-52 win over Saskatchewan when they held their Prairie rivals to .283 per cent from the field. The Vikes sharp shooters will play a key role in the matchup as they edge Saskatchewan in field goal, free throw and 3-point percentage shooting.