VANCOUVER – The Thunderbirds rose to the event of their season opener as three gamers completed the evening with double-doubles on path to a 68-57 win over the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns, marking Isabel Ormond’s first victory as the top coach of the T-Birds at War Memorial Gym.
Mona Berlitz led the cost for the ‘Birds with 17 factors, eleven rebounds, and two assists. Olivia Weekes added 12 factors and 17 rebounds, whereas Emilie Banmann contributed one other ten factors and ten rebounds.
“We scouted and knew going into this recreation to seek out benefits on the within, so all week we labored on being sturdy and holding our post-ups,” stated Ormond. “Lethbridge has some nice energy and measurement within the paint, so for us, it was practising that and dealing on that cross to set them up for achievement.”
The Pronghorns’ captain, Tobore Okome, led the crew with 16 factors, seven rebounds, and three assists, whereas Courtney McKee added 11 factors, one rebound, and two steals.
Ormond’s squad was off to an excellent begin. They began with full-court strain proper out of the gate and took an early 10-2 lead charging from the defensive finish of the ground. The protection that led into offense propelled Hailey Counsell to knock down two early three-pointers to set the tempo early.
However, the Pronghorns continued. After a number of empty possessions, the visiting crew began to play aggressively across the offensive glass, racking up a number of baskets coming from Okome and McKee. The pair mixed for six fast factors.
WBB | @UBCWBBall‘s Emilia Banmann will get the rebound and makes the shot for UBC! The T-Birds at present lead 33-29 towards Lethbridge within the second quarter!#GoBirdsGo
— UBC Thunderbirds (@ubctbirds) November 4, 2023
Coming out within the second quarter, the Pronghorns lower the lead down to simply 4, 33-29. Okome continued to guide the cost for the opposition as she arrange her teammates, drew fouls, and completed on the rim.
But Mona Berlitz stepped up massive for the Thunderbirds. After the Pronghorns lower the deficit to simply 4, Berlitz completed back-to-back layups on the rim, giving the momentum again to the ‘Birds. She led the cost within the second quarter and led the crew with 12 factors and 6 rebounds at half.
The Thunderbirds stored the strain up, as their focus and aggressive power began to edge out the Pronghorns, forcing 23 complete turnovers. “For me, I wish to spotlight and highlight our third quarter the place we held them to 5 factors; that is the type of defensive focus and power we will carry.”
Huynh, the freshman, performed an enormous position initially of the third, with back-to-back steals – changing the primary one with a layup and establishing Weekes for an early and-1 alternative. The Thunderbirds continued the full-court press and prolonged their result in 20 factors. At the tip of the third, the ‘Birds led 61-41.
Okome remained aggressive on each ends of the ground. To begin the fourth, she drew back-to-back fouls, changing them to 5 consecutive factors, however the deficit was too massive to beat.
Both groups will regroup and meet one another once more on Saturday, November 4th, at 4:00 p.m. PDT on the War Memorial Gym.
