CALGARY- The University of Calgary women's basketball team forced 23 turnovers on Friday night at Jack Simpson Gymnasium, defeating the University of Manitoba Bisons in their season-opener, 76-62.
The Dinos got off to a quick start, scoring the first few points of the opening quarter; the girls continued their intensity throughout, which allowed them to maintain a significant lead in all minutes of action.
Throughout the exhilarating season opener, Dinos guard and returning all-star
Brianna Ghali made an impact, showcasing true leadership. She ended the game with 24 points, 10-12 Field Goals, and 2-2 three-point shooting. Other key players for the Dinos tonight were new additions
Bobbi Jo Colburn, with 12 points, 5-11 FG, and 1-2 FT and
Maria Massuet Puig, with 12 points, 5-8 FG, 2-3 FT, and one steal.
Captain
Anmol Mattu also made an impact, assisting her teammates and contributing heavily to the domination. Her magic touch helped in the development of several key plays, including three-pointers by Ghali and Colburn.
Overall, the Bisons committed 22 turnovers for the game, while recording just eight assists. The two teams combined for 19 steals in the contest. The Dinos held the Bisons to a slim 55-42 edge in rebounds, while also noting a 6-2 advantage in Fastbreak Points.
Though there's always room for improvement, Ghali was clearly proud of her team and satisfied with her own performance. "We played smart, we attacked. And that's exactly what I myself will be looking to do in future games. Overall we did a good job."
When asked about the arrival of several fresh-faces to the team, Ghali added, "we started training in July, so we aren't really a new group to each other. But from the moment we started training, our chemistry together was awesome; we definitely clicked. What we've been working on is transferring that off-court chemistry to on-court. We did a great job today, but we still have a lot to work on. Today we learnt we have some stuff to clean up- we let way too many threes go up, though we knew they were shooters. Tomorrow we'll have to clean stuff up, still stick to the same game plan, but tighten some screws."
The Dinos remain at home on Saturday evening when they once again face the Manitoba Bisons at Jack Simpson Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 5:00 pm.
