CALGARY – It's an early start to conference play in 2009 for the University of Calgary Dinos women's basketball team, as they host the Alberta Pandas in a two-game series Jan. 2-3.
The lady Dinos enter 2009 in third place in the Central Division, one game back of the Pandas at 6-4. Calgary closed out 2008 by losing two tough games at Saskatchewan by 17- and six-point margins and can ill afford to drop a pair at home to the Pandas and still hope for a playoff hosting spot.
Fresh off their annual Hopewell Holiday Hoops tournament, which finished up this past Tuesday, the Dinos are back in game shape and look to match up well with the Pandas as the fifth- and sixth-ranked teams in CIS do battle this weekend. The Dinos had little trouble at the Hopewell Holiday Hoops, cruising to victories over Fraser Valley and Brock before taking an 87-73 decision over Ryerson to finish the tournament a perfect 3-0.
Alberta took the season series with the Dinos 3-1 a year ago, including a two-game sweep in Calgary. Under third-year head coach Scott Edwards, the Pandas were ranked as high as No. 1 in the nation earlier this season before bowing out to the now top-ranked Simon Fraser Clan. The Pandas were also swept at the hands of the Huskies but enter the new year riding a four-game conference win streak following a sweep of Lethbridge and wins over Manitoba and Winnipeg.
This weekend's battle will once again be strength against strength as the high-octane Dinos take on Alberta's trademark stifling defence. Calgary has averaged nearly 74 points per game, third best in Canada West, while the Pandas have allowed an anemic 53.5 points this season.
The Dinos have scored more points (728) than any other team in the division in 2008-09, but they have also given up 646 and, while the Pandas are not renowned for their offence, Calgary will need to be solid at both ends of the floor to ensure success.
Ashley Hill leads Calgary with 16.1 points per game – third in the conference – with Whitney Haswell and second team All-Canadian Courtney Coyle also contributing double digits. Alberta's top sniper is Ashley Wigg, who is averaging an even dozen each night, while freshman Nicole Clarke is the only other Panda in the Top 30 in conference scoring with a 9.2 points-per-game average.
Both Dinos teams remain home next weekend to host the Saskatchewan Huskies in another divisional match-up. They'll follow that up with a trip south to face Lethbridge before returning to the Jack for their final home games of the year Jan. 23-24 when Simon Fraser and Trinity Western come to town.
The season ends with road trips to UBC, Victoria, and Alberta.
Tip-off goes at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights in the Jack Simpson Gym.
-UC-
