Split streak over

By Lee Bogle

Like a dream come true, the University of Calgary women’s basketball team took down two of the top ranked teams in the country this past weekend.


The University of Winnipeg Wesmen–Wespeople for those so PC-inclined–fell hard Fri., Nov. 28, 82-77, while the Bisons from Manitoba were slaughtered the next night as if the match up occurred on the great plains circa 1879.


“I thought we would have to play out of our minds to take both games,” Head Coach Shawnee Harle marvelled.


Somebody commit these ladies, because they outperformed all expectations.


The Dinos controlled most of the game Friday, with the starting five stealing the show. With five players hitting treys, the win was clearly a team effort. But the individuals who truly shone were Tanya Hautala and Lindsay Maundrell, notching 17 points each, while Cory Bekkering added 16. Jessica Foltinek scored 20 points and hauled down 17 rebounds in a performance reminiscent of the Leighann Doan days and was awarded player of the game honours for her efforts.


“I’m kind of getting into a groove,” Foltinek commented on her dominating abilities.


Saturday was not as delightful a performance, but it resulted in a dubya nonetheless.


“We were outplayed 37 minutes of the game,” admitted Harle. “But we were good when it counted.”


Annnnnnnd how.


Although they had a seven-point lead with five minutes left in the first half, this slipped to a six-point deficit at the break. The rest of the game was a battle to regain ground, with the Dinos exploding with three minutes left in the game.


Everything clicked: big rebounds, amazing defence and big shots from downtown. Katherine Adams hit a big three–that can only be described as ‘big’–to tie the game with a minute left. The domination continued, and the mighty bisons, noblest of all bovine-esque creatures, finally plummeted to their collective death.


Oh yeah, the score was 69-63.


Hautala scored 22 and was bestowed with the decorated title of player of the game. She was perfect from the charity stripe and hit a big three with a couple minutes left in the match.


Foltinek added 19 points and 12 boards to complete the epic double double-double.


The Dinos host a tournament at the Jack Simpson Gymnasium Jan. 2-4. Hurray for fun, we hope to see you there.