Key defensive stops in the fourth quarter and free-throw shooting throughout the game allowed the University of Victoria Vikes women鈥檚 team to snap a four-game sa国际传媒 West basketball losing streak in Edmonton on Friday night.
Kristy Gallagher had a game-high 27 points before fouling out in the final minute as the Vikes edged the University of Alberta Pandas 63-61 at the Saville Community Sports Centre. Amira Giannattasio added 11 points (6-for-6 in free throws) and Katie Langdon managed 10 rebounds and nine points for the Vikes, who improve to 5-4.
鈥淚 thought Katie played a huge role tonight in that regard, at both ends. She rebounded the ball and was a force at the offensive end,鈥� said Vikes head coach Dani Sinclair. 鈥淵ou always want to see that key stop or that last rebound and we definitely got some key ones down the stretch.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 pretty either way, but if those are the ones you鈥檙e going to get, we鈥檒l take it,鈥� she added of the tight win. 鈥淲e鈥檙e finding, hopefully, the importance of getting the job done defensively.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to say it and it鈥檚 one thing to do it and be rewarded for it. That sends the bigger message. You learn from losses more often, but you want to validate some of the messages that we鈥檙e trying to give, and hopefully that one sinks in more and more,鈥� added Sinclair.
Megan Tywoniuk had 18 points for the Pandas, but missed two key free throws with 8.1 seconds remaining that could have tied it. It should have never come to that, however, as the officials missed an Alberta double-dribble. Elle Hendershot had 18 rebounds for the hosts, who slip to 5-4 in the standings.
Gallagher was 8-for-20 from the floor, 2-of-3 from the three-point line and a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line. She also recorded six rebounds and three steals in a solid road performance. The Vikes were 3-for-6 in shooting from the three-point line while the Pandas were a dismal 3-of-18.
The Pandas hit just 6-of-10 from the free-throw line while the Vikes were 20-of-26 from the charity stripe, which played a huge role in the victory.
It was a tight game throughout as the Vikes led 17-14, 27-26 and 44-43 by quarters. Victoria built up a 60-53 lead late only to watch the Pandas assume a 61-60 advantage. Gallagher made a pair of free-throws and Marissa Dheensaw was 1-for-2 to record the decisive points, while the defence held firm.
Meanwhile, the Vikes men had their hands full with the undefeated Golden Bears, who pulled out an 89-63 victory to improve to 9-0 on the season.
Brody Clark led Alberta with 20 points, while Mamadou Gueye added 16 points and 11 rebounds. Mason Loewen replied with 20 points and Hayden Lejeune added 11 for Victoria, which falls to 5-4.
The Vikes and Pandas meet again today at 4 p.m. followed by the men at 6 p.m. Pacific time.
