By Tyler Lowey
TRU Sports Information
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women's basketball senior night was dampened by the University of Manitoba Bisons when they pulled off the 86-68 victory Saturday night (Jan. 26) at the Tournament Capital Centre.
SYNOPSIS
Even though the final home weekend didn't end in the WolfPack's favour, they still took a moment following the final buzzer to pay homage to their three graduating seniors.
Michelle Bos (Surrey, BC),
Kanesha Reeves and
Emily Vilac (both Kamloops, BC) were celebrated with a few family members, presented with flowers, a framed uniforms and an action shot from the team.
Inspired by senior night, the WolfPack came out with a drastically better first quarter than last night. Bos' 3-pointer at the buzzer tied it up 19-19 after the first 10 minutes.
While the WolfPack's energy was sustained in the second quarter, they couldn't contain the Bisons in the same fashion.
After only allowing six points in the paint and nine points from downtown in the first quarter, the Bisons dialed up 10 points in the paint and went 4-for-8 from beyond the arch. Led by Emma Thompson's 12 points on 4-for-4 shooting, the Bisons led the WolfPack 50-36 at half. Reeves led the 'Pack in the first half with 10 points, connecting on 4-of-10 shots.
Reeves drilled a pair of 3s in the third, en route to her team-high 19-point performance. She was 5-for-11 from deep.
The 'Pack's three seniors exited the game with 1:30 remaining on the clock to a standing ovation from the crowd.
Tonight's contest also marked the final home game for Chuck Ferguson, who has been an assistant coach with the WolfPack for the past 13 seasons. At 54, Ferguson is looking forward to spending time with his family and doing some travelling. He also stated that he plans to be around the 'Pack program in the future, but in a lesser role.
The Bison also have three graduating seniors, in Tianna Mighty, Claire Harvey and Tiara Licsi.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:
Team Leaders:
WolfPack:
Kanesha Reeves (5
th year guard, Kamloops, BC): 19 points, 3 rebounds
Emily Vilac (5
th year forward, Kamloops, BC): 11 points
Leilani Carney (4
th year guard, Burnaby, BC): 11 points, 4 assists
Michelle Bos (5th year guard, Surrey, BC): 9 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists
Bisons:
Taylor Randall (3
rd year guard, Dundas, ON): 22 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists
Claire Harvey (5
th year forward, Winnipeg, MB): 17 points, 9 rebounds
Emma Thompson (4
th year forward, Calgary, AB): 16 points
Turnovers
TRU: 16 MAN: 16
Score by Periods:
MAN 19 31 20 16 --- 86
TRU 19 17 21 11 --- 68
Record:
TRU: 4-14 MAN: 8-10
THEY SAID IT!! (post game quotes):
TRU Assistant Coach Chuck Ferguson:
On the seniors final home game:
I thought they came out and played really well because tonight was really about them, the seniors, letting them play and enjoying the moment at home. I thought they had an excellent effort and all three played really well. It was a really nice evening, for sure.
On his time with the basketball program:
Tonight was a little bittersweet. I've been blessed to be a part of so many young ladies' journeys here at the university and it's been one of the great honours of my life.
Manitoba head coach Michele Sung (fifth season):
On how they were able to hold off a strong start from the WolfPack:
We had great flow on offence tonight. In the past, we let that dictate our play, but we kept the ball moving and I was happy about. We found different ways to score when our initial individual looks weren't there. We kind of grinded it out a little bit in a sense, but credit to them, [TRU's] offence was flowing tonight.
On the Bison experiencing a senior night:
I think for us we have a good mix of young and old, so the experience of seeing a fifth-year night and last home game – because we will have that next weekend – we learned how they attacked and approached it. I thought it was extremely professional and something to be respected.
UP NEXT:
The McDonalds/TRU Bookstore "Leader of the Pack" Players of the Game-as is tradition were the three graduating players: Bos, Reeves and Vilac.
The WolfPack and the Bisons will finish their regular seasons next weekend. Manitoba has a home-and-home series with the University of Winnipeg Wesmen beginning Thursday (Jan. 31) in Winnipeg, before wrapping things up at home on Sunday, Feb. 2.
The 'Pack will be at the University of Calgary's Jack Simpson Gym to tangle with the Dinos on Saturday and Sunday (Feb 1 and 2).
Those two road games in Calgary will be shown on a pay-per-view basis on
www.Canadawest.tv .
