Losses mount for T-wolves

The dogs of Saskatchewan pack a mean bite.

Both UNBC Timberwolves basketball teams learned that firsthand Thursday night in Saskatoon, where they each suffered one-sided losses to the host University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

The UNBC women were clobbered 92-60 – their third-straight loss after a 6-0 start.

Despite a strong opening from forward Madison Landry, who scored nine of her team-high 17 points in the first quarter, the T-wolves trailed 30-19 after 10 minutes. UNBC closed the gap to eight points in the second quarter but the Huskies pulled away with a 12-2 run to take them into the intermission leading 48-30.

The Huskies keyed on UNBC’s big three – Landry, Maria Mongomo and Vasiliki Louka – and limited their ability to create offence. Mongomo finished with a 13-point game while Louka put up 11 points and had 13 rebounds. Sabine Dukate led the Husky attack with 24 points, while Summer Maskewich hit for 17 points. Megan Ahlstrom contributed 12 rebounds and five assists.

UNBC shot just 29 per cent (18for-62) from the field. Saskatchewan hit 45 per cent of their field goal attempts (36-for-80).

“UNBC has three really strong players and I thought our depth wore them down,” said Huskies head coach Lisa Thomaidis, on canadawest.org.

“To see players come off the bench and the level of play not dip at all is fun to watch. I think we are starting to build some confidence in more players and that’s translating to some pretty good things happening on the court.”

With the win, the Huskies (9-2) moved into sole possession of first place in the U Sports Canada West conference.

The UNBC men suffered a 98-80 defeat Thursday at the hands of the Huskies.

Lawrence Moore had a 33-point game, Maxwell Amoafo had 14 points and 15 rebounds, while Emmanuel Akintunde and Alexander Dewar, coming off the bench, each totaled 14 points.

The T-wolves kept it close in the early going and trailed 23-20 after one quarter. The Huskies stretched their lead to 52-41 at halftime.

Thursday’s win improved Saskatchewan’s record to 7-4, good for fourth place in Canada West. Their third consecutive loss dropped the T-wolves (5-4) to ninth in the conference.

The same four teams meet again tonight in Saskatoon.