The rivalry renews itself on Friday.
That's the night the UNBC Northern Timberwolves and Camosun College Chargers will meet in Victoria for a B.C. Colleges Athletic Association women's basketball game. Two years ago, the Timberwolves beat the Chargers for the provincial championship title and a berth in nationals. Last year, the Chargers returned the favour.
Friday's meeting will be the first of the new season. The teams will also do battle on Saturday. Currently, the third-place T-wolves have a 6-1 record, one spot behind the 7-2 Chargers.
"Everybody gets pumped up for the games and I think they're going to be good," said UNBC head coach Loralyn Murdoch.
One new twist to this Timberwolves-Chargers clash is the fact former UNBC forward Chelsea McMullen is now a member of the Chargers. McMullen was in T-wolves' colours during the B.C. championship season but was declared academically ineligible last year. Family circumstances then took her to Victoria and Camosun coach Brett Westcott gladly scooped her up.
Not surprisingly, McMullen has become an impact player for the Chargers. With 153 points in nine games, she's third overall in league scoring average, just behind UNBC's Kady Dandeneau (127 points in seven games).
"It's going to be fun to play against Chelsea," Murdoch said. "She's having a great year. I think she is really growing as a player. There's no animosity between her and any of the (UNBC) girls and it's just going to be fun to get out there and play."
UNBC's lineup does have one change from the first half of the season and it's a positive one. Rookie forward Emily Kaehn missed the entire 2009 portion of the schedule because of mononucleosis but is now completely recovered. She saw action last weekend when UNBC played three games in Calgary and will be available for the contests against Camosun.
"She looked rusty (in Calgary)," Murdoch said. "The young players are playing behind third-, fourth- and fifth-year players so, coming in mid-season, it's going to be a bit of a challenge for her."
The UNBC men, owners of a 6-1 record, will also be on the court Friday and Saturday against the Camosun men. The male Chargers limped to a 2-9 record in the first semester.
