It is safe to say that the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack will face their toughest test of the Canada West women's basketball season this weekend. The Pack face the defending league champion and number one nationally ranked University of Saskatchewan Huskies Friday and Saturday (Nov 29-30) at the Tournament Capital Centre.
It is the first time the Huskies have paid a visit to Kamloops in over five years. The last time Saskatchewan played here was November 1, 2013. The Huskies won that night 76-54.
Saskatchewan enters this weekend atop of the Canada West riding a six game unbeaten streak and tied for the league lead with the other unbeaten team: the Calgary Dinos. They have outscored their opposition 495-237.
The WolfPack are enjoying a fine season as well. Thompson Rivers has five wins in their first eight starts. That is one more victory than they achieved the entire 2018-19 season.
The Huskies have two players among the statistical leaders in Canada West. Katriana Philipenko (3
rd year guard, Saskatoon, SK) is fourth in field goal percent (53.6) and fifth in three point percent (50). Guard Sabine Dukate (5
th year, Ventspils, Latvia) is third in the league in three point per cent (51.3).
Thompson Rivers is lead by fifth year guard
Emma Piggin (Kamloops, BC). She leads the team in scoring with 13.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game averaging 32.4 minutes.
Leilani Carney (5
th year, guard, Burnaby, BC) and
Jordon Haggerty (3
rd year, guard, Saskatoon, SK) are next at 11.4 points per game. Carney is averaging a team leading three assists per game.
Saskatchewan's coach is Linda Thomaidis is into her 21
st season at the helm of the program. She is also the head coach of Canada's senior womens basketball team which is currently ranked fourth in the world by FIBA.
The last time these teams met was November 10-11, 2017. The Huskies beat the WolfPack both those nights. The Friday saw Saskatchewan take Thompson Rivers 90-34. Carney had five points with Piggin chipping in with four. Summer Maskiewich (4
th year, forward, Calgary, AB) had 17 points while Megan Ahlstrom (5
th year guard, Calgary,AB) had 17 points..
The following night, Saskatchewan came away with a 79-45 victory. Dukate was the top gunner for the Huskies with 21 points while Maskiewich had 18 .Piggin and Haggerty each had eight points for the Pack.
Friday night's game is the WolfPacks "CIBC Shoot for the Cure". This is an initiative spearheaded by the USPORTS Women's Basketball Coaches Association which is directed by former University College of the Cariboo now University of New Brunswick Red's head coach Jeff Speedy. A percentage of the gate will be donated to charity. Tip off is 7 pm. Saturday's tilt has a 5 pm start time.
Both of the games this weekend will be webcast on a pay-per-view basis on Canada West TV presented by Co-op by accessing:
https://cw.yaretv.com/.
James Matthews will handle the play by play duties of both games this weekend. His analyst will be former WolfPack guard Vince Watson .CFJC TV's Dylana Milobar will be the in game host.
COMMENTS OF WOLFPACK POST BROOKLYN GOLT (2ND YEAR, LANGLEY, BC):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1199911684002865153
