There are quite a few scenarios in play this weekend (Feb. 1 and 2) when the UNBC Timberwolves host Lethbridge in the last regular season series of the 2018-19 season at the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre.
The women have already clinched a Canada West playoff spot, but are also trying to host a home playoff game (Feb. 9), while the men are still fighting to secure one.
The men will clinch a playoff birth if they win one out of the two games Friday and Saturday against the Pronghorns or a single loss by Mount Royal University (MRU) or Thompson Rivers University (TRU).
MRU plays Brandon while TRU faces off against Calgary.
“It feels great to be in playoffs, but the games this weekend are very important," UNBC's Cevanna Carlson says in a news release. "We want to play at home, play on our home court, and be comfortable, playing with our own hoops and our own fans.”
There is little chance however that the men's team will host a home playoff game.
In total, the top 12 teams in each conference (men and women) make the playoffs.
Standings-wise, the women currently sit in seventh with a 10-8 record, while Lethbridge is one place above them in sixth with an 11-7 record.
UNBC allows 72.4 points per game while scoring 77.2; the Pronghorns allow 68.4 points per contest while scoring 73.6.
Scoring leaders for UNBC are as follows:
- Points - Maria Mongomo (19.9 per game)
- Rebounds - Vasiliki Louka (12.3 per game)
- Assists - Madison Landry (3.6 per game)
- Steals - Maria Mongomo (2.3 per game)
- Blocks - Vasiliki Louka (1.1 per game)
Scoring leaders for Lethbridge are as follows:
- Points - Kacie Bosch (14.8 per game)
- Rebounds - Kathe Keith (8.9 per game)
- Assists - Asnate Fomina (4 per game)
- Steals - Asnate Fomina (1.7 per game)
- Blocks - Isabel Rattai (0.5 per game)
.@UNBCWomensBball host @UofLPronghorns this weekend to wrap up the @CanadaWest regular season, with a chance to host a playoff game on the line! We talked to @UNBC's Cevanna Carlson about the matchup, and honouring seniors @AbbyGibb & @VLouka13! PREVIEW: https://t.co/zdGMTcaJou pic.twitter.com/Qra0QY8mKN
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) January 31, 2019
The UNBC men's team currently sits 10th in Canada West standings with an 8-10 record while the Pronghorns are at 11-7 and hold down the seventh spot in the table.
The Timberwolves allow and score 79.6 points per game; Lethbridge scores 94.4 per game while allowing 80.1.
“These games are important, not just for playoff seeding, but for ourselves," UNBC's Anthony Hokanson adds in the release. "Trying to build some momentum, heading into the postseason. We want to take one, if not two, this weekend. Getting that momentum would be huge. You always hear about teams peaking at the right time, and I think that is what we are trying to do here.”
Scoring leaders for UNBC are as follows:
- Points - Jovan Leamy (18.7 per game)
- Rebounds - Vaggelis Loukas (8.8 per game)
- Assists - Vova Pluzhnikov, James Agyeman (3.1 per game)
- Steals - Jovan Leamy (3 per game)
- Blocks - Jovan Leamy (1.1 per game)
Scoring leaders for Lethbridge are as follows:
- Points - Zac Overwater (18.4 per game)
- Rebounds - Grant Shepard (7.9 per game)
- Assists - Kyle Peterson (6.3 per game)
- Steals - Kyle Petterson (1.8 per game)
- Blocks - Zac Overwater (1.1 per game)
The women tip off at 6 p.m. on Friday (Feb. 1) with the men at 8 p.m. On Saturday (Feb. 2), the women will start at 5 p.m. and the men at 7 p.m.
A massive weekend for @UNBCBasketball, as they host @UofLPronghorns, looking to clinch a @CanadaWest playoff berth, while also honouring seniors @12_Agyeman, @Chandman32, JV Leamy, and Vaggelis Loukas. Hear from Tony Hokanson and read the preview here: https://t.co/OwWkPbzKlS pic.twitter.com/yUEzAgRldD
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) January 31, 2019
