VIKE WOMEN CLINCH BERTH IN CAN-WEST PLAYOFFS

By Mike Tucker

The UVic Vikes women’s basketball team overcame a double-digit deficit at halftime to topple the Lethbridge Pronghorns 75-66 in Lethbridge, and also clinch a berth in the Canada West playoffs.

Behind a 17-3 run in the fourth quarter, the Vikes up-ended the ‘Horns to seal their eighth straight playoff appearance. Ranked no. 7 in the CIS polls, the Vikes are now 9-4 in conference play.

Debbie Yeboah and Kristen Hughes sparked the Vikes fourth quarter

turnaround with the tandem accounting for 20 of UVic’s 28 points in the frame. The two guards shared the game high with 17 points apiece.

Hughes shot 4-9 from the perimeter, with three of those coming in the fourth, and Yeboah also padded her stats with seven ‘boards and five assists.

In the frontcourt, Kayla Dykstra and Vanessa Forstbauer both had double-double performances. Dykstra was good for 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Forstbauer shot 7-10 to finish with 14 points and 12 ‘boards.

The Vikes held a 40-32 advantage on the glass.

Lethbridge led 36-27 at the half, after exploding for a run of 16 unanswered points at the onset of the second quarter. ‘Horns guard Lauren Taal keyed the first half run and would finish with a game high 21 points on 8-18 shooting.

The win completed the weekend sweep for the Vikes, who defeated Calgary the previous night.

Debbie Yeboah scored a career-high 35 points to lead the Vikes in a 92-85 shootout victory Friday over the Dinos.

Yeboah shot 11-21, including six three-pointers, to finish with 32 points. The second year point guard from Winnipeg trumped her previous high of 21, which was set against Calgary earlier this season.

Including Yeboah, all five of the Vikes starters reached double digit scoring totals as the Vikes improved to 8-4 in league play.

Carmen Lapthorne, Kayla Dykstra, Kristen Hughes and Vanessa Forstbauser all finished with 10 points apiece. Dykstra, a Calgary native, shot 5-9 and added seven ‘boards in her homecoming game.

The Vike shot 52 percent from the field and make a season-best 11 three-pointers.

Calgary scored the first two hoops of the game, but the Vikes were quick to capture a lead that they would never relinquish. UVic’s largest lead of the game was 18, which came midway through the fourth quarter.

Ashley Hill led the home side with 19 points. Calgary guard Tamara Jarrett came off the bench to net 15 points on 5-6 shooting. Robyn Gibson and Tilly Ettinger totaled 12 apiece.