The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack have opened the Canada West women's basketball weekend with a 67-59 loss to the host University of Victoria Vikes. The game was played at the CARSA Performance gym.

The WolfPack (7-8) came out hunting shots in the paint. They took an early lead by outscoring the Vikes 10-2 down low, despite running out a shorter roster.

Brooklyn Golt (2^nd year, post, Langley, BC) got going in the paint early for the 'Pack by backing down Marissa Dheensaw a few times for six quick points.

Golt's frontcourt partner, Jordan Robb (1^st year, forward, Kelowna, BC) , led the 'Pack with seven points in the first half on six shots, many of which came from the interior.
The Vikes (8-7) began to tighten up the paint and use their length to disrupt the WolfPack. Tana Pankratz blocked a pair, while Dheensaw and Ashlyn Day each turned one away in the first half. The Vikes only allowed nine points in the second quarter.

Building off those defensive stops, Pankratz splashed a pair of threes in the first half to ignite the Vikes attack.

Keeping the WolfPack in it was fifth-year guard Leilani Carney (Burnaby, BC) , who went 4-for-7 in the third stanza for 11 of points. Carney was the best shooter from deep, as she canned 4-of-10 shots for her team-high 18 points. She also picked up five assists and three boards.

Back-to-back threes by Megan Rouault (3^rd year guard, Vernon, BC) and Jordan Wilkinson (4^th year, guard, North Battleford, SK ) for the Vikes tied it 55-55 early in the fourth.

Ashlyn Day, who entered the game as the Vikes leading scorer, went without a bucket in the first quarter and was held to four points at half. She took over in the second half, sparked by her defensive game with one block and three steals in the second half. On the offensive side, a pair of backdoor cuts and a pair of triples from the same spot on the floor got her rolling and contributed to her 20 points. She also led her squad with seven rebounds. With the win, the Vikes ended a five-game losing streak.

The other 7-7 team entering tonight, the University of Manitoba Bison, lost 98-81 to the University of Regina Cougars. 

Said WolfPack coach Goran Nogic afterwards, " We need to play more consistently and can't have three or four gaps during the game.  We missed having both Emma and Jordon (Haggarty) at 100 per cent.   They showed great attitude in trying to help the team. Our inside players (Jordon Robb and Brooklyn Golt) especially had a great effort fighting for the boards against much taller players.  Our best player was certainly Leilani on this night."
 
 
NEXT UP: The Vikes and the WolfPack will play the second game of their weekend series tomorrow night (Jan 25) with a 5 pm PDT tip off.

TRU will then return home for their final two contests of the regular season at the Tournament Capital Centre. The WolfPack will entertain the University of Fraser Valley Heat on January 31^st and February 1^st.  That is "Alumni Weekend" and will feature "Donors" being honored on the Friday evening. The Saturday will see Thompson Rivers' two fifth year players—Emma Piggin (Kamloops, BC) and Leilani Carney (Burnaby, BC) honored after the contest.
All those contests will be webcast on a pay-per-view basis on Canada West TV presented by Co-op by accessing: https://cw.yaretv.com/.  
(with help from UVIC Sports Information)