‘Birds Set For Friday CW Play-In Showdown With UBCO Warmth
VANCOUVER – The Canada West Playoffs are formally upon us, and for the primary time ever, the UBC Thunderbirds and UBC Okanagan Warmth will conflict within the postseason. Friday afternoon at 4:00 pm in Saskatoon, the ‘Birds and Warmth sq. off within the 8-9 Play-In sport. The winner will hen battle the top-ranked Saskatchewan Huskies on Saturday.
Erin McAleenan’s UBC Thunderbirds (11-9) completed eighth within the common season standings, and are getting into the playoffs on a profitable word after a 64-62 street victory final Saturday in Victoria. In the meantime the Warmth (10-10) have been idle since February 4th and are getting into the playoffs having received three of their remaining 5 video games. Regardless of ending 11th within the total standings, UBCO’s RPI was greater than Mount Royal’s, which bumped them into the ninth total spot within the standings.
The ‘Birds path to the playoffs has been difficult for the reason that later portion of January. Erin McAleenan’s crew has needed to navigate accidents, inexperience and a difficult schedule, however are a greater, extra united workforce workforce due to it. Saturday in Victoria the blue and gold went into the ultimate quarter trailing by 4 factors, however some well timed early three-pointers from Hailey Counsell and Emily Martindale evened the rating. Later within the quarter, Sara Toneguzzi and Cerys Merton nailed key three-pointers of their very own which helped stake UBC to a two-point lead. Then with the rating tied 62-62 late, rookie Mona Berlitz nailed consecutive free throws with 4 seconds left, giving UBC their remaining penultimate lead.
“Saturday was a terrific instance of our resilience,” stated Erin McAleenan. “We have been centered on our gameplan from the leap. Large credit score to Sara Toneguzzi (20 factors) who got here out firing on all cylinders at each ends of the ground. Her 15 first-half factors actually bought us going. However even with Victoria’s measurement benefit we did a superb job at containing them. We have had different shut video games that went the opposite path, so there was main progress for us to have the ability to head into playoffs on a excessive word.”
UBC’s evident energy all through the 2022-23 season was their protection which completed second in all of Canada West with 1190 factors surrendered (59.5 average-per-game) – One level shy of the highest ranked UFV Cascades for fewest factors allowed. Conversely the Warmth allowed a mean of 73 points-per-game which ranked them 14th amongst 17 groups. All season, Erin McAleenan has preached the significance of defensive particulars, realizing how important they’re going to be through the playoffs.
“Our protection provides us quite a lot of confidence going into the playoffs. So long as we keep dedicated to our gameplan and communication we’ll put ourselves in a superb place to restrict their alternatives,” added McAleenan. “By enjoying nice protection we additionally put ourselves ready to capitalize off turnovers and get some simpler seems to be and simpler scores on the different finish of the ground.”
Neither UBC or UBCO had a top-10 scorer of their lineup this season, however each groups will depend on important depth offensively. Third-year ahead Jaeli Ibbetson led all Warmth gamers with 16.1 points-per-game whereas first-year Spanish switch Sofia Ainsa Lluch provided 13.2 points-per-game. UBC was led by second-year guard Olivia Weekes who notched 15.1 points-per-game whereas Sara Toneguzzi added a mean of 10.4. Olivia Weekes didn’t play in both of UBC’s video games in opposition to Victoria as a consequence of damage, however Erin McAleenan did affirm that she will likely be travelling with the workforce to Saskatchewan and will likely be a game-time resolution.
In the course of the 2022-23 common season, the ‘Birds and Warmth break up a pair of video games held at UBC on January 27th and 28th. The primary evening went the way in which of the Warmth as they earned a 70-53 victory on the energy of eight three-pointers. The subsequent evening UBC answered with a convincing 78-50 victory. 4 ‘Birds (Weekes, Counsell, Martindale and Berman) completed in double-figures offensively they usually pressured UBCO into 23 turnovers.
“It was a tail of two completely different groups, on two completely different nights, for each of us that weekend,” remarked McAleenan. “They’re a terrific offensive rebounding workforce. So we have to restrict their second likelihood alternatives. We then have to belief that our protection goes to have the ability to give us an edge. So long as we play our greatest workforce basketball at each ends of the ground, we will give ourselves a terrific shot to win.”
Friday afternoon’s Play-In tilt between the UBC Thunderbirds and UBCO Warmth suggestions off at 4:00 pm PT from Saskatoon. You’ll be able to observe alongside through Canada West TV.
