With apologies to Dickens, it was the best of times and the worst of times for the University of Victoria Vikes basketball teams Friday at McKinnon Gym.
The men's UVic squad proved capable of holding a lead while the women's team did not.
The men's Vikes (6-3 in conference) - built a 35-19 lead in the first half into a commanding 65-45 margin in the second half en route to a 77-59 sa国际传媒 West victory over the Lethbridge Pronghorns (5-4).
The Vikes' third-ranked conference defence stifled the Pronghorns' conference second-ranked offence.
"We have to slow their transition game and stop their three-point shooting," said Vikes head coach Craig Beau-camp, before the game, as the Vikes looked to stop a two-game losing skid.
"Collectively, everyone needs to step it up."
Mission accomplished as guard Terrell Evans poured in 25 points while Ryan Erikson added 13, Pierce Anderson and Michael Acheampong 10 each and Brandon Dunlop eight. Derek Waldner led Lethbridge with 14.
The Vikes play Calgary tonight in McKinnon.
The women's Vikes, up 36-25 at the half, wilted under a furious Lethbridge assault in the second half. The Pronghorns were clutch down the stretch with their shooting, including hitting six of 10 three-pointers for the game, in their 7266 victory over the CIS nationally seventh-ranked Vikes (6-3 in conference).
Kim Veldman, with 20 points, and conference top-five scorer Ali Cameron, with 15, made several crucial late baskets for Leth bridge (5-4).
"We weren't focused and came out too casual. And that team [Lethbridge] made us pay," said UVic star Debbie Yeboah, who had a game-high 23 points.
"We have to earn it every day. And we didn't tonight. They [Pronghorns] are a good team and they got hot and got on a roll while we missed lay-up after lay-up.
When you miss lay-ups, that's like a turnover."
Point-guard Cassandra Good is chipped 13 points for UVic but was also displeased.
"We didn't play like a team tonight," said the third-year Penticton-product.
"We knew they [Pronghorns] could be streaky, so our defence needed to pick it up a notch in the second half. We couldn't, and they hit some lucky shots while we didn't hit our shots. We need to regroup for [tonight, against the nationally eighth-ranked Calgary Dinos at McKinnon]."
The usually-reliable Jessica Renfrew of the Vikes was held to seven points.
VIKES BEAT: With the Olympic theme blasting from the PA speakers - fitting since the Vikes rowers have produced several Summer Games medallists in the past - the 2012 Canadian university women's rowing championship banner was raised at McKinnon during half-time of the men's hoops game. It was the 11th national championship banner for coach Rick Crawley's program.
