The University of Victoria Vikes swept their second consecutive weekend of Canada West action by clipping the University of Manitoba Bisons 78-63 on Saturday night at the CARSA Performance Centre.
Last night’s game came down to the final few possessions. Tonight, the Bisons led for only 20 seconds and trailed by double digits for the majority of the evening.
The Vikes weren’t going to be denied during the final regular season home game of the season.
For the first time this season, the Vikes (11-7) started all four graduating players: Morgan Roskelley, Katie Langdon, Kristy Gallagher and Marissa Dheensaw. The roster switch provided a spark, as Langdon earned six of the first eight points for the Vikes and swatted a pair of shots on the other end. Roskelley was also feeling it, as she sniped a pair of threes in the first 10 minutes.
That spark lasted for the majority of the game, as Langdon didn’t want the night to end. She was a force in the paint, reliable around the rim and set a career high with 15 rebounds – nine of which came on the offensive end and contributed to her 17-point performance.
Roskelley remained hot as well, as she led the Vikes with 18 points on a 4-for-8 performance from deep.
After only recording one bucket in the opening frame, Taylor Randall got busy running around a series of screens for the Bisons (7-11), getting to the rim with ease for 11 first half points. She kept attacking down hill, trying to keep the Bisons afloat. She hoisted up a game high 15 shots and cashed in a game high 19 points.
After popping off for 23 points last night, fifth-year forward Emma Thompson was held to nine points on eight shots through three quarters and didn’t get a bucket in the final frame.
Addison Martin was the most effective Bison early. Her teammates continued to dump it down to her on the block and she bodied her way to the hoop for five first half points. The Bisons kept feeding her in the second half and she ended up with 16 points.
Despite Martin’s strong game on the glass with 12 rebounds, the Vikes won the battle of the boards 52-36.
The Bisons didn’t go easily into the night, though. Once again, they brought out the press, which stymied the Vikes offence for the middle part of the second half.
The only issue that plagued the Bisons was that they couldn’t find buckets on the other end of the floor while they kept the Vikes at bay.
With the loss, the Bisons dropped their sixth straight, while the Vikes further secured their playoff postion with their fourth-straight win.
The Vikes will wrap their regular season next weekend on the road in Langley when they battle the Trinity Western University Spartans (5-13). The Bisons return home next weekend to host their provincial rivals, the Brandon University Bobcats (1-17).
