On a scale of one to style, the Dinos women’s basketball team are currently rated ‘just shy’ but are pushing new boundaries each week. They met the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns for pair of games–one at home and one in Lethbridge–Nov. 25-26.
The Dinos came out strong at home on Friday, earning an early nine-point lead at 19-10. The Pronghorns, however, would not lie down and die. They somehow put together a 10-0 run to take the lead.
This was not what Dino Tanya Hautala had in mind. She turned up the good late in the half, earning the Dinos a 39-30 lead and herself 15 points heading into the break. The ‘horns struggled to stay in the game, remaining close at 60-51 before an 8-0 Dinos run put the game out of reach for good. The final score rests at 91-70 for the Dinos. Ouch.
Hautala scored a game-high 27 points, including hitting five of her eight attempted treys. She was followed closely by Lindsay Maundrell, who put in 21 for the Dinos and hauled down seven boards. Michelle Willson did more than her fair share as well, posting a huge double-double–12 each of points and rebounds. Whitney Haswell made herself visible, hitting 12 points and grabbing eight rebounds.
The team as a whole shot very well indeed. For the game, the Dinos shot 48.4 per cent from the field and 62.5 per cent from beyond the arc. The win marked the first home win for the Dinos, who lost their previous four in the Jack.
Saturday’s game was not much different. While the game remained close early on–with the half closing out 39-35 for the Dinos–the ‘horns couldn’t get back into the game. The Dinos ended up ahead 86-74 as the buzzer chimed.
The real story of the game, however, was Hautala. She hit an incredible 33 points–10 of 16 from the field and eight of 12 three-pointers. Wow. Maundrell was the only other Dino in double-digits, hitting for 16.
The wins bump the Dinos up to six games for their winning streak that will last through the Christmas break; their next regular season games take place at home Jan. 6-7 in the Jack Simpson Gymnasium against the Brandon University Bobcats. Gametime is 6 p.m.
If you’re in Calgary over the break and wish to watch our winning ladies take on some competitors from across the country, the Dinos host the Hopewell Holiday Hoops tournament Dec. 29-31. The Dinos take on the Universite Laval Rouge et Or and University of Victoria Vikes Dec. 29 and 30 respectively at 7 p.m. and the University of Toronto Varsity Blues Dec. 31 at noon. All games are in the Jack.
From beyond the arc:
For tallying 60 points and just being an overall incredible human being, Hautala was awarded Canada West Female Player of the Week honours. The Chilliwack, BC native sunk 65 per cent of her three-point shots over the weekend, making her an integral part of the Dinos’ wins. Since stats are better the more ridiculous they are, Hautala, with a total of 13 treys, matched the entire U of L team for points from beyond the arc. The five-foot-four guard is in her final year of eligibility with the Dinos.