ItB次元官网网址檚 a new season and a new look for the UVic Vikes womenB次元官网网址檚 basketball team as they hit the court for their season opener this weekend.
The Vikes host UBC-Okanagan Heat Friday (Oct. 27), with the women at 6 p.m. followed by the men at 8 p.m., then again Saturday at 5 and 7 p.m.
Saturday is Poster Night, as the first 500 fans will get a Vikes team poster from Big Wheel Burger and the Saanich B次元官网网址. Entry is free for fans under-18 who wear a jersey, courtesy of the . The Vikes will be available to sign the posters 10 minutes after each game.
After hosting the U Sports womenB次元官网网址檚 national championship in the spring, the Vikes are itching to get back on the court, especially after an abbreviated preseason in which they played just four games, said third-year forward Marissa Dheensaw, a 2015 Claremont grad.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 exciting to finally play, it feels like we havenB次元官网网址檛 gotten started yet,B次元官网网址� said Dheensaw. B次元官网网址淟ast year we started preseason in mid-August, so weB次元官网网址檝e been looking forward to this.B次元官网网址�
On paper, the Vikes are the favourite this weekend, having finished with a 12-8 record in the Canada West last year. Compare that to the Heat, which won just four of 20 games.
However, the Vikes won just one of their preseason games, and are a new team having graduated Jenna Bugiardini, who played 33 minutes per game, led the Canada West in rebounds averaging 9.9 per game and was eighth in Canada West scoring, averaging 16 points per game.
If thereB次元官网网址檚 a positive to losing standout Bugiardini itB次元官网网址檚 that the leadership core of the Vikes will be around for a while. There are no fifth-year players. Fourth-year Amira Giannattasio, who averaged 14 points a game last year, will lead the team with fellow fourth-years Kristy Gallagher and Paige Thomson.
Dheensaw, who already averaged upwards of 28 minutes, will also take on a more prominent role. She worked to strengthen her offensive range throughout the summer and is hoping to be more of a threat on offence this year.
B次元官网网址淭his happened in my first year as well, we had no fifth-years and it worked in our favour,B次元官网网址� Dheensaw said. B次元官网网址淲e got to build as a team and work with the same team next year [without losing anyone].B次元官网网址�
Tickets are available at
