Heat hoopsters earn first Canada West wins of the season
Madison Kaneda's 20-point effort on Saturday night paced the UBC Okanagan Heat to their first win of the Canada West women's basketball season.
The fifth-year guard netted 12 points in the opening quarter as the Heat downed the Mount Royal Cougars 78-64 at the Kelowna campus gym.
The Heat, which lost a close one to the Cougars Friday, put the game out of reach in the fourth stanza, outscoring the Cougars 28-18.
“We came out more as a team (Saturday) compared to our game (Friday),” said UBCO captain Roslyn Huber. “We got the stops which led to great chances on offense.”
After being outrebounded by 17 in Friday night’s game, the Heat were more active on the boards, outrebounding the Cougars 49-34.
“It’s the workhorse stuff that helps you win games,” said head coach Heather Semeniuk. “I’m just really pleased at the way the girls came out with more purpose and attention.”
On Friday, the Heat, now 1-3 on the season, lost 54-53 to the Cougars on a last-second free throw.
The Heat’s second-year transfer guard Sarah Allison had 18 points and three steals.
This weekend, the Heat travel to Prince George to take on the UNBC Timberwolves Friday and Saturday.
Heat men
Like the UBCO women, the Heat men are 1-3 through the first two weeks of the Canada West campaign.
First-year coach Pete Guarasci earned his first CIS victory Friday night as the host Heat defeated Mount Royal 74-63.
Fourth-year guard Azi Fahandeg-Sadi led the UBCO attack with 27 points, including 21 in the second half.
“The guys ground out a victory when they had to in the fourth,” said Guarasci. “We had some really good defensive possessions and we definitely tried to execute the game plan.”
Third-year guard Anwar Faza put up 17 points and snagged seven rebounds, while rookie guard Greet Gill had a team-leading eight rebounds.
On Saturday, the Cougars turned the tables on the Heat with a 78-59 win, as UBCO committed 30 turnovers.
Fahandeg-Sadi again led the Heat with 18 points and seven rebounds.
UBCO (1-3) will return to action Friday in Prince George against the T'Wolves.
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