The University of Victoria Vikes are getting the hang of this home-court advantage thing.
The Vikes, coming off their first sa国际传媒 West men鈥檚 basketball win of the season Friday night on Ken and Kathy Shields Court with a 72-63 victory over the Trinity Western Spartans, did it again Saturday with a tense 69-65 victory over the Spartans (2-14) in a game that had 12 lead changes.
The Vikes (7-9) had lost all five of their previous conference games at home before this weekend.
Guard Scott Kellum, an import find from Washington state, was absolutely clutch from the outside for UVic by hitting five of six three-point attempts and finishing with 23 points in going eight-for-10 from the field. Justin Kinner was key inside for the Vikes with 13 points while Grant Sitton added 11.
Meanwhile, UVic Vikes women鈥檚 coach Dani Sinclair asked 鈥渨here鈥檚 our passion?鈥� after Friday night鈥檚 64-60 sa国际传媒 West loss to Trinity Western on Ken and Kathy Shields Court in CARSA Gym.
Maybe it was tucked away in the back of the dressing-room lockers. The Vikes rebounded for a 67-62 victory Saturday over the Spartans to move to 11-5 in conference while Trinity Western fell to 10-6.
鈥淲e had been winning a lot lately [Friday ended a six-game UVic victory streak] and maybe needed a bit of a jolt,鈥� said Sinclair.
Amira Giannattasio, a lethal outsider gunner, led UVic with 26 points Saturday. Nicole Karstein, who has been cleverly effective inside for the Vikes, added 23 points, the always-productive Jenna Bugiardini 21 and guard Jenna Krug 10.
Points off turnovers (21-15) and second-chance points (12-4) were in UVic's favour and proved decisive in a game that had eight lead changes.
The Vikes trailed 43-39 at the half.
鈥淸Spartans] are a tough team and come right at you . . . we outlasted them . . . and showed some spunk and leadership,鈥� Sinclair said. 鈥淚t was important to get that split. It鈥檚 important for confidence.鈥�
The Vikes are preparing for March, when they will host the U Sports national women鈥檚 basketball championship tournament at CARSA.
The women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 Vikes have another cross-strait sa国际传媒 West set next weekend, this one on the road in Abbotsford against the Fraser Valley Cascades.
