UBC Okanagan Athletics Scoreboard

Stifling defense helps Heat run away 86-43 against Royals Friday night  
Women's Basketball

Friday January 21, 2011 - Box Score Attached

UBC Okanagan Gym - Kelowna BC

Douglas College Royals (0-10) – 43
UBC Okanagan Heat (7-3) – 86

·         Jenna Kantz 20 pts.

·         Roslyn Huber 20 pts.

·         Madison Kaneda 16 pts.

Full story after the jump

KELOWNA, BC - It’s been said that sometimes the best offense is a good defense.  This was the case Friday night as the Women’s Basketball team showed a defensive intensity that tallied 24 turnovers for the Royals, which turned into 27 easy points for the Heat.  Jenna Kantz was named Player of the Game, narrowly missing a double-double in her all-around showing that included 20 points, 9 boards, 7 assists and 3 steals. 

Kantz finished the game with more impressive numbers, but the first half belonged to Roslyn Huber. Huber was red-hot from the field, scoring 12 points on 6 for 7 shooting, connecting on all six in a row.  Huber got everything she wanted in the paint as every basket she scored over that span came from jumps-shots a step in from the foul line.  She also grabbed 2 offensive boards that turned into easy 2nd chance points, and finished the game with 20 points on 10/13 shooting.  The team tallied 10 2nd chance points on the night as they won the battle-of-the-boards 43 to the Royals’ 36. 

The Heat kept their foot on the gas; they continued to run the floor hard during every possession.  Even with a quick pace they still shot 57% from the field, due to their pestering defense that lead to easy buckets on the break. This strong defense earned them a whopping 20 steals on the night.

“The first thing we talk about is how we want our defense to be the best,” commented Guard Madison Kaneda, speaking about the focuses the team talks about in practice and before games.  “We always find that if we work hard on defense and create steals… it continues on to our offense.”  27 of the Heat’s 86 points came from points off of turnovers.

The victory added an even sweeter taste to a night already filled with smiles aplenty.  Immediately after the game the team celebrated the raising of the 2009-2010 BCCAA Championship banner in front of family, friends, and numerous fans.  Heat Athletic Director Rob Johnson gave an address detailing the road to the team’s 1-point victory against Camosun College at last year’s Provincial Finals, which were hosted at UBC Okanagan last Spring.  After the address, former teammate and Captain Megan McGill and current Captain Jenna Kantz took part in raising the flag to the rafters.  

The players were mostly lost for words to describe their experiences last year, other than “simply incredible”.  They feel more motivated than ever now to get back to the top, however.  “It was so exciting last year,” Huber said, “and we want to do it again.”

The Heat are set to play Douglas again Saturday night at 6 pm at UBC Okanagan.