Post Season Issue 2017 YOUNG BIRDS SHOW PROMISE BUT FALL IN SECOND ROUND OF CANADA WEST PLAY-OFFS After posting a perfect 8-0 league record in the Jessica Hanson were the lone double-digit first half of Canada West play, the UBC scorers with 15 points apiece. Thunderbirds women’s basketball team enjoyed UBC hosted the Alberta Pandas the following some time off over the holiday break before weekend and shot a blistering 57% from 3-point joining back up in California for training camp to range and were 17-18 from the charity stripe to gear up for the second half of the season. After secure their first win of the New Year. Keylyn three days of practice and two exhibition games Filewich recorded her first career double-double against NAIA competition, as a Thunderbird in the 71-64 UBC was home for a week of Keylyn Filewich win, with 16 points and 13 practice before flying to rebounds. Penn chipped in 19 Saskatoon to take on the points, including an 8-8 effort Saskatchewan Huskies. The from the free throw line. UBC visitors got off to a dismal start came out flat in Saturday’s in game 1, and only managed rematch, and Friday’s hot to put up six points in the shooting went cold, with the opening frame while giving up home team shooting only 29% 25 on the defensive end. The from beyond the arc. Spotton ‘Birds shooting woes was the lone T-Bird in double continued throughout the digits, scoring 14 points in the game, shooting only 28% 60-57 loss. overall in the 68-48 loss. Kara UBC was back on the road the Spotton and Maddison following weekend to Calgary, Penn led UBC with 16 and 13 points, where they faced a Mount Royal Cougars team respectively. The T-Birds shot the ball slightly that had their best shooting night of the season in better in Saturday’s rematch and took a four point Friday’s game. UBC gave up 26 points in the lead into the half before giving up 28 points in the opening frame, and despite owning a 59-39 third quarter. UBC put up a valiant 25-point effort advantage on the boards, the ‘Birds couldn’t slow in the final frame, but couldn’t overcome the down the hot-shooting Cougars, dropping the deficit, losing the game 73-69. Spotton and contest 80-75. A spirited team meeting got the T-Birds refocused and re- year. After giving up a 16-2 run in the last minutes energized for Saturday’s rematch, where the of the third quarter, the T-Birds responded with a ‘Birds came out flying to take game two 87-59. 17-0 run to muscle out a 67-58 win. Penn had 18 UBC put up 20+ points in three of four quarters points while Spotton had a 15 point, 10 rebound and had another dominating performance on the night of her own. UBC showed a steadier hand in boards, grabbing 46 to MRU’s 28. 11/12 players the second game of the series, winning every hit the scoresheet, with Shilpa Khanna’s 18 quarter en route to the 62-53 victory. Hanson led points on six made 3-pt shots leading the way. the ‘Birds with 16 points, while Spotton had her UBC hosted the Brandon Bobcats the following second straight double-double with 14 points and weekend, with Friday’s ‘School Day’ game 10 rebounds. Filewich was productive off the featuring a 12:30pm tip-off for over 1200 students bench, scoring nine points and grabbing eight from local elementary and high schools. The rebounds in 21 minutes. game got off to a fast-paced start for the A 16-4 regular-season record earned UBC a 5th boisterous crowd, with the home team putting up place finish for play-offs, after RPI was a scorching 31 points in the first quarter, which considered, and the right to host the UNBC included a 5-7 showing from 3-point range. The Timberwolves in the Canada West Play-In Series. ‘Birds locked down defensively the rest of the Friday’s 74-61 victory was highlighted with game, allowing just 33 points over the remaining another outstanding game from Lindquist, who three quarters. Filewich notched a career-high 18 had six steals and 13 points on the night, points on 8-10 shooting, while Penn (19) and including two key back-to-back steals and Khanna (14) each hit double digits. UBC came conversions to capture the final momentum for out flat the following night, taking a 3-point deficit the home team. Penn added 22 points while into the fourth quarter before outscoring the Strujic was an efficient 5-6 from the floor to Bobcats 18-8 in the final frame en route to the 73- contribute 10 points. UBC came out flying to start 66 victory, which also marked the 300th Canada game two, scoring 23 points in the first quarter West career win for Head Coach Deb Huband. and gaining a lead they would never relinquish, In addition to scoring from Penn (24), Hanson taking the game and sweeping the series with a (13) and Spotton (12), 2nd year guard Krysten 76-55 win. 11 players hit the scoresheet, with Lindquist had a breakout night, scoring 10 points Penn (18), Spotton (14), Lindquist (13) and on 5-7 shooting while grabbing five rebounds in Hanson (7 assists) leading the way. just 16 minutes of play. The T-Birds flew to Edmonton to take on the The following weekend marked the last home Alberta Pandas in the Canada West Quarter- game of the season for the ‘Birds, and featured Finals the following weekend. Despite having an ‘Courtside’, a university-wide festival event. The outstanding defensive start to the game, where home team did not disappoint, taking a six of Alberta’s 11 points were on banked three’s convincing 75-59 game over the UNBC at the end of the shot clock, UBC struggled to Timberwolves in front of a loud and raucous convert, and gave up 27 turnovers on the night. crowd. Four players hit double-digits again, with UBC dropped game one 62-58. Game two would Penn’s 19 points leading the way. Saturday’s be a do-or-die for the young ‘Birds, and they rematch, which also marked Seniors’ Night for came out ready to take care of business, with a three graduating T-Birds, was a different affair, blistering 15-4 run to start the game. However, with the ‘Birds trailing by eight after 20 minutes of turnovers and poor shooting in the second half play. A strong 40-28 second half was the would come back to hurt them, with the Pandas difference in the 76-72 win. Andrea Strujic was taking the game 60-52, and ending the T-Birds’ a monster in her final regular-season home game season. Overall, a young T-Birds squad had a at War Gym, dropping a career-high 15 points to successful campaign, and despite graduating go along with 7 rebounds on the night. three forwards, will be looking forward to building UBC drove down the highway to Trinity Western from the experiences gained this year into next University for the last two league games of the season. THREE T-BIRDS RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING PLAY IN 2016-17 Three Thunderbirds received awards from Canada West in recognition of their on-court achievements this past season. Winnipeg, Manitoba native Keylyn Filewich was named to the Canada West All-Rookie team; Filewich made an immediate impact in her first year at UBC, averaging nine points and six rebounds in 17 minutes of play per game. Spotton received Third-Team All-Star recognition, as the fifth year forward had another solid season in her final year, averaging 12 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, as well as counting seven double-doubles on the year. In her first year in U-Sports, second-year guard Maddison Penn was named a First Team Canada West All-Star, and went on to be named a Second-Team All- Canadian. The second-leading scorer in Canada West at 18 points per game, Australian Penn set a new record in UBC Women’s Basketball history, making 15 free throws in a late November game against Victoria to break the previous record of 14 made field goals in one game set by Lisa Nickle. UBC BIDS FAREWELL TO FOUR GRADUATING SENIORS The end of the 2016-17 season also marked the end of an era for four graduating Thunderbirds basketball players. Cherub Lum, Kara Spotton, Andrea Strujic and Susan Thompson all completed their university basketball careers this season, and look forward to pursuing their passions in various careers and graduate work. Lum, Strujic and Thompson were all career Thunderbirds, while Spotton came to UBC after two years at Colorado State University. Lum is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Dietetics in Australia; Strujic plans to further her studies at BCIT; Spotton has landed a job in finance Cherub Lum, Susan Thompson, Andrea Strujic, Kara Spotton with RBC in Toronto; Thompson will be travelling through the summer before starting work in Vancouver. We wish these four the best of luck with their future careers, and welcome them to the fold as new UBC Alumni! YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR HEAD COACH DEB HUBAND The 2016-17 season was highlighted by a number of personal coaching achievements for Head Coach Deb Huband. On January 28th, Huband, in her 22nd season at the helm of the Thunderbirds program, earned her 300th Canada West victory in UBC’s 73-66 win over the Brandon Bobcats.