Pandas and Bears maul Vikes

An inability to defend at key times combined with equally untimely turnovers continues to cost the young University of Victoria Vikes women’s basketball team.

The host Alberta Pandas ran off a 24-point third quarter to break open what was just an eight-point game, turning it into a massive 77-55 setback for the Vikes in Canada West play on Friday night at the Saville Centre in Edmonton.

Down just 20-16 after the first quarter and 40-32 at the half, the Vikes became unglued in the third in which the now 9-1 Pandas outscored the visitors 24-12.

Jenna Bugiardini had 16 points and seven rebounds at the half for the Vikes, while Nicole Karstein collected six points and seven boards at the midway point. That’s when it all came apart.

“We had one point six minutes into the third quarter. They upped their intensity and we didn’t match it,” said Vikes head coach Dani Sinclair. “That’s a very good team and one of the more aggressive teams we’ve seen and we struggled with matching it.”

Sinclair’s Vikes had battled back from 10-3 and 33-20 deficits early in the first and second quarters, respectively.

Bugiardini and Karstein were kept off the scoresheet in the second half and finished with nine rebounds apiece. Kristy Gallagher had 11 points for Victoria. Megan Wickstrom led Alberta with 15 points, while Maddie Rogers and Elle Hendershot added 14 and 13, respectively.

The Vikes shot just 33 per cent from the field, 14 per cent from the three-point line and also strug- gled at the free-throw line, going 12-for-21.

“We need to be better than that,” said a disappointed Sinclair. “The 12-of-21 is a tough one to take. We were 50 per cent at the half and ended 12-for-21 — we need to take advantage of those opportunities.”

Victoria, now 5-6, came into the game as the second-highest scoring team in the conference at 76 points per game, second only to Saskatchewan’s 77.7. The Vikes had, however, allowed 71.2 per outing, 10th of the 17 teams.

In men’s play, the Vikes fell to 6-5 as the Golden Bears posted a 70-51 win over the visitors. Mack Roth once again led Victoria with 18 points, while Mamadou Gueye had 15 for Alberta, which improves to 5-5.

The teams meet again today with 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. starts.