KAMLOOPS – History was made at the Tournament Capital Centre Saturday night.
For the first time in their six-year history in the Canada West, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack swept the University of Victoria Vikings in women’s basketball.
The WolfPack handed Victoria their second straight defeat, 53-44, upping their record to 9-13. The Vikes fell to 15-7.
The WolfPack took Friday night’s opener 62-59, and head coach Scott Reeves felt it was the biggest two victories since he took over the program.
“Every year we have had steps that we have had to make,” said Reeves. “There has been a win here and a win there. This certainly is sweet against a team like Victoria. They are a former No. 1 this year and have a rich history of having great teams and winning national championships.
“It is a great accomplishment and I am very proud of the kids.”
Reeves thought his team’s defence was the story. “The way we came out and made adjustments to their ball screens. We basically said we were going to win this thing on defence. We got defensive rebounds and beat them on the offensive glass. To have a four- and five-point quarter against Victoria is exceptional.”
On “seniors night,” it couldn’t have been written better as if it came out of Hollywood. Vernon forward Kayla Forsyth, a VSS Panther grad, was playing her final home game.
The fifth-year forward scored the game’s first and last points.
“I just really wanted to leave it all on the court tonight,” she said afterwards. “Sweeping Victoria is just the cherry on top. It was a good finish to five years.”
Forsyth, surrounded by family, was named the TRU Bookstore “Leader of the Pack” player of thegame winding up with a game-high 18 points and six rebounds in 22 minutes of court time.
Said Reeves on Forsyth: “She has put up these kind of numbers before. She always had the ability to shoot the ball. I am glad it happened tonight. I am very proud of Kayla. I wish nothing but the best for her in the future.”
Forsyth was at a loss to pick a favourite WolfPack teammate.
“They all contributed to my game both on and off the court.”
TRU led 15-4 after the first quarter and were up 24-17 at the half. Jen Ju (third year, guard, Vancouver) had 12 points and six rebounds.
TRU will close out its regular season at UBC this weekend against the Thunderbirds.