It was the one thing that was not going to be allowed to happen.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 want to start CARSA off with a losing series,鈥� said University of Victoria swing-player Kristy Gallagher.
The Vikes made sure the first-ever playoff series held in the new CARSA Performance Gym was a winning one with a 62-44 victory Sunday afternoon over the Trinity Western Spartans in the deciding game of their best-of-three opening-round sa国际传媒 West women鈥檚 basketball series.
The Vikes advance to play the MacEwan University Griffins in a best-of-three conference quarter-final series, beginning Friday in Edmonton.
鈥淚t was an ugly game, as deciding games can be, but we dug in and gutted it out,鈥� said Vikes coach Dani Sinclair.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 pretty but a win is a win, especially in the playoffs, where the only thing that matters is winning and advancing.鈥�
It really wasn鈥檛 sealed until a 19-7 UVic fourth quarter.
鈥淒espite the final scoreline, it felt like a one-possession game,鈥� said Sinclair.
Sinclair pointed to the inside play of forward Nicole Karstein, who had 20 points, 16 rebounds, abetted by a stout defensive performance. Karstein鈥檚 teammates also pointed to her play, especially with fellow key starters Jenna Bugiardini and Amira Giannattasio falling into early foul trouble. Bugiardini scored 17 points.
鈥淲e stopped the Spartans when we had to . . . Nicole [Karstein] got some key blocks for us . . . and we came through when we needed to,鈥� said Parkland Secondary-graduate Gallagher, who had 10 points and six rebounds.
The Vikes are making a playoff run for the second consecutive season.
鈥淲e鈥檝e peaked at the right time two years in a row,鈥� said Karstein.
鈥淭rinity Western made us work for it. But we kept pushing, and playing hard defence, and working together.鈥�
The Vikes, with no graduating players, will prepare to face a veteran and deep MacEwan squad dominated by fifth-year players and which won its final eight regular-season games to earn a first-round bye.
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