Kodiaks Sports Info

The University of Alberta – Augustana Vikings learned their lessons well after their previous meeting with the Lethbridge College Kodiaks and turned it into a 65-57 first-round victory over the Kodiaks in the ACAC Women's Basketball Championship opening round play in the Val Matteotti Gymnasium.

The Kodiaks were 78-64 winners of a Feb. 10 meeting between the teams, but improved defence helped make the difference for the Vikings Thursday night.

"We did a much better job of defensive transition," said Augustana head coach Megan Wickstrom. "They're really dangerous when they get on the move. They get up the floor quickly."

Another defensive focus for the Vikings was on Kitawna Sparks (first year, Open Studies, Taber), the Kodiaks' All-Conference First Team All-star and the ACAC's South Rookie of the Year.

"She's the rookie of the year and potentially a player of the year," said Wickstrom. "We're a little undersized and she's difficult to defend, but we got a really good team effort, with good work from some of our smaller players, Lauren Cardinal and Maren MacDonald."

Augustana was quickest out of the starting gate Thursday night, running to an early 5-0 lead on the way to a 22-9 first-quarter advantage. The Vikings ran the lead to 26-11 two and a half minutes into the second period before the Kodiaks began to find their rhythm, drawing to within 28-21 at the 4:50 mark.

A pair of three-pointers helped Augustana open up a 34-21 edge, and by halftime, it was 38-23 for the visitors. Most of the point difference was accounted for from beyond the three-point line, where the Vikings, the ACAC's leaders in three-point accuracy, were four-for-12 in the half, while Lethbridge missed all eight attempts.

"We definitely can shoot the ball," said Wickstrom, "and when we do, it makes us a much more difficult team to defend."

The Vikings finished the game with seven three-pointers in 21 attempts while Lethbridge was four-for-20.

Tayah Fiveland, All-Conference First Team (third year, Westerose, Alta.), made both of her three-point tries and led the Vikings with 28 points, for which she earned player of the game honours. Kamryn De Klerk, All-Conference Second Team (second year, Rolly View, Alta.) finished with 17 points.

Despite the Vikings' defensive attention, Sparks led the Lethbridge scorers with 18 points while also pulling down 10 rebounds. Courtney Deemter (second year, Nursing, Calgary) was next with 11 points.

After falling behind 48-27 midway through the third quarter, the Kodiaks worked their way back into contention. They trailed 52-42 after three quarters, but moved to within eight points, 55-47, with five minutes to play. Augustana pulled away to a 64-51 margin with 2:20 left before Lethbridge cut the deficit to 64-57 with just over a minute left.

Players of the Game: 

Vikings: #4 Tayah Fiveland

Kodiaks: #10 Kitawna Sparks