The University of Calgary Dinos staked their claim to a spot in the CIS Top 10 this week after a massive two-games sweep of their archrivals, the fifth-ranked Alberta Pandas – and transfer forward Jessica Franz was right in the middle of it to record her best weekend since joining CIS from the college ranks.
In the opener Friday, Franz put up 13 points to match Calgary’s margin of victory in a 74-61 triumph over the Pandas – but a night later, she was really put to work.
With post Alex Cole out with foul trouble and Esther Graff sitting on the bench nursing an ankle injury, Franz was pressed into action for 35 minutes and delivered. In a game that was well in doubt until close to the end, Franz made key basket after key basket, shooting 9-of-15 from the field and scoring a season-high 19 points, adding nine big rebounds – including a couple of defensive boards in the final minutes that sealed a 74-67 win. She also added three steals in the game.
Calgary (11-5) heads to Winnipeg for a date with the Bisons this weekend before closing out the regular season at home against the Winnipeg Wesmen Feb. 10-11. The Dinos host the 2012 CIS Women’s Basketball Final 8 March 17-19 in the Jack Simpson Gym.
