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In what has become a signature of recent University of Victoria men鈥檚 basketball seasons, the Vikes have overcome slow starts to reach the national Final Four the past two years.
Playing to form, the Vikes shrugged off a 2-6 pre-season campaign to sweep their opening sa国际传媒 West regular-season weekend.
UVic recorded a 78-61 victory over the Trinity Western Spartans on Saturday night in Langley to follow up their 82-71 opening win over the Spartans on Friday.
Meanwhile, turnabout proved fair play in Langley for the University of Victoria on the opening weekend of the sa国际传媒 West women鈥檚 basketball regular season. The Vikes decisively outplayed Trinity Western in a 23-8 fourth-quarter slam-down en route to a 77-52 victory to avenge a 78-70 overtime loss the night before against the Spartans.
The ending was just the opposite in the loss on Friday when Trinity Western had outscored UVic 8-0 in extra time.
鈥淥ur players responded well from the Friday night loss,鈥� said Vikes head coach Dani Sinclair.
鈥淚t showed character and grit and is something to build on. Our veteran players stepped up after not a good game to start the season Friday.
鈥淭o do it on a Saturday night on the road is never an easy thing.鈥�
Sophomore outside sniper Amira Giannattasio poured in 19 points for UVic while Nicole Karstein added 13 points, Kristy Gallagher 12 points and Jenna Krug 10, while Jenna Bugiardini pulled down seven boards.
The Vikes men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 squads open the sa国际传媒 West home era in the new CARSA Gym next Friday and Saturday against the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
