For the second straight weekend, the University of Calgary basketball ladysaurs split two games against teams from British Columbia. This time, the Dinos tipped off against Trinity Western and Simon Fraser University, losing 101-76 to the mighty SFU Clan followed by a rebound effort, 88-60 over TWU. Just like the week before versus second-ranked University of British Columbia, the ladysaurs hung tough with first-ranked Simon Fraser. However, the loss of Courtney Coyle, due to foul trouble in the second quarter, proved too much for the Dinos to overcome.
“Losing Courtney to foul trouble was critical,” echoed Dinos bench boss Shawnee Harle. “She was playing so well and when she went out, we lost momentum.”
In addition, the Dinos committed 31 turnovers on the evening. The abundance of turnovers and Coyle’s foul trouble proved too much in the effort to overcome the SFU Clan, who scored a decisive 25 points in the final quarter. The mistakes wasted an impressive rebounding night for the Dinos, who grabbed 40 boards compared to Simon Fraser’s 29.
Eliminating turnovers and emphasizing focus, the Dinos returned the next day and promptly stomped Trinity Western. By creating opportunities instead of committing errors, the ladysaurs forced TWU into several key turnovers. This swing in momentum sparked an 18-8 run in the third quarter, putting the Trinity Western Spartans away for good. Guard Ashley Hill and Forward Whitney Haswell led the way for the Dinos, each scoring a game-high 22 points. The tables also turned on this day, this time with the Spartans giving up the game-high 29 turnovers.
As Harle indicated, the turning point in the game was provided from the pressure the Dinos put on TWU.
“We pressed for 40 minutes against TWU,” she said. “Our presses were very effective and a decisive factor in our win. Trinity was unable to handle what we threw at them and we simply wore them down.”
With lessons being learned each week by the 2-2 squad, Harle is hopeful about this year’s steadily-improving team.
“We aren’t quite there yet but I believe our team is finally getting the picture,” she said enthusiastically. “I know our best is yet to come.”