The University of Victoria Vikes head coach stressed that: 鈥淲hen we don鈥檛 play well in the first quarter, those are the games we don鈥檛 play well in, period.鈥�
Those words rang true on Friday night as the Vikes managed just 10 points in the opening quarter, having trailed 19-10 and eventually losing 78-70 to the Wesmen.
Down 38-23 at the half and losing by 22 at one point in the second half, the Vikes cut it to three points in the last minute, but it wasn鈥檛 meant to be. Victoria slips to 7-6 in the Pioneer Division, allowing Winnipeg to creep within two points at 6-5 in a tight division.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got some guys who just aren鈥檛 showing up when the game starts,鈥� said an agitated Beaucamp, who wasn鈥檛 even factoring in the closeness at game鈥檚 end.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 even lament that because you鈥檝e buried yourself. You鈥檝e dug yourself a deep hole and you can鈥檛 have success like that.鈥�
Jelane Pryce led the Wesmen with 24 points, while Jordan Charles had 16 for the Vikes, who trailed 73-70 with 26 seconds to go.
Meanwhile, the Vikes women struggled in the second half for the third straight game in losing 75-65 to the Wesmen after leading 34-32 at the half.
Victoria had four players in double digits as Nicole Karstein posted 17 points, Jenna Bugiardini collected 13 and Brittani Yee and Jenna Krug each finished with 12. Yee鈥檚 dozen came off three-pointers as she was 4-of-8 from beyond the arc.
The Vikes fall to 5-8 with the third straight loss and will try it again at noon today with the men to follow at 2 p.m.
