Do you believe in miracles?
Never underestimate an underdog, which the UNBC women's basketball team will be tomorrow night, but they also could be living on a prayer with a win or home scenario on the road.
The Timberwolves have won nine straight, including a double-overtime thriller last weekend against the Lethbridge Pronghorns, while only dressing seven players after enduring their final regular-season games with just six.
At one point during the campaign, they held a record of 3-9 with a playoff berth seemingly out of reach, but stormed back to finish with an 11-9 record thanks to an eight-game winning streak.
Maria Mongomo carried the team on her back during the last season stretch with three 30-point games in a row, numerous Canada West All-Star of the Week nods and also clinching the Canada West women's basketball 2019-20 season-scoring title.
Now comes the biggest test of the year in facing the top-seeded Calgary Dinos, who will also have home-court advantage after receiving a bye in the first round.
Calgary finished with a record of 18-2 and first in the conference standings, but those two only losses were recent.
On Jan. 30, Calgary lost heavily to the Saskatchewan Huskies 66-38 and suffered a 78-69 loss against the Alberta Pandas on Feb. 1.
The Lady T-Wolves did have one performance against the Dinos this year where they weren't too far behind, suffering a loss in Calgary by only nine points on Jan. 4.
VIDEO: @UNBCWomensBball has faced everything this season. Injury woes, short bench, road games, underdog status. And nine straight wins. Now, our @UNBC TWolves head east to take on the #2 team in @USPORTSca, the @UCDinos in the @CanadaWest playoffs. Why not us? #gotwolves pic.twitter.com/6rFPgr703M
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) February 19, 2020
“It’s going to be important we play as a team," UNBC's Emma vanBruinessen says in a team release.
"Both on offense, finding the best looks and defensively, getting key stops. With our small bench, everyone is going to need to chip in as much as they can. It’s a single game knock out so we have nothing to save ourselves for.”
The Timberwolves will rely heavily on Mongomo and hometown product Madison Landry, who is averaging 19.1 points per game on the year.
“The Dinos have a number of key players. McIntosh, Colburn, and Stalidzane have put up big numbers all season and it’s going to be important we shut them down," vanBruinessen adds.
"We are playing in their home gym this weekend yet again, and we know the crowd is not going to be in our favour. It’s going to be important to focus on us this weekend.”
The two teams will tip-off tomorrow (Feb. 20), 5 p.m. Pacific time from the University of Calgary.
Here's how the two teams matchup:
UNBC TIMBERWOLVES
- Ninth in Canada West standings
- Record: 11-9
- 73.6 points per game (Fourth)
- 69.3 points allowed per game (10th)
- Scoring Leader: Maria Mongomo (20.1 per game)
- Rebounding Leader: Emma vanBruinessen (10.2 per game)
- Assists Leader: Emily Holmes (3.9 per game)
- Steals Leader: Maria Mongomo (3.4 per game)
- Blocks Leader: Emma vanBruinessen (0.6 per game)
CALGARY DINOS
- First in Canada West standings
- Record: 18-2
- 73.8 points per game (Third)
- 57.4 points allowed per game (Second)
- Scoring Leader: Liene Stalidzane (14.8 per game)
- Rebounding Leader: Erin McIntosh (5.6 per game)
- Assists Leader: Clara Tapia Palacio (3.3 per game)
- Steals Leader: Sascha Lichtenwald (2.1 per game)
- Blocks Leader: Erin McIntosh (1.1 per game)
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