Women's Basketball Huskies topped by Thunder Saturday at home

Saturday's second match of the weekend against the Concordia Thunder didn't go as hoped for the Keyano Huskies Women's Basketball team as they fell 76-46 to the top team in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference's (ACAC) North Division.  

"Yeah [it was] disappointing," Head Coach Dwayne Vigilance said of Saturday's result. "We had no effort; we lacked enthusiasm and Concordia, that's why they're the best team right?  
 
"If you don't come to play, you get worked."  
 
The Huskies jumped out to a 12-10 lead through one quarter, but the Thunder quickly responded to lead 31-18 at half time. A 21-13 third quarter and 24-15 fourth quarter, the Thunder closed out the game with a 30-point advantage and a road weekend sweep.  

Zera Lynn Panesa led the Huskies with 18 points while rookie Mzna Mohammed tied for the team lead with five steals off the bench in 21 minutes of action.  

"For a first-year kid, she comes in, she works really hard, she impacts us very quickly so I'm very proud of her effort," Vigilance said of the rookie, who also earned Player of the Game honours Saturday.  

Maja Besic was second in scoring with eight points as the Huskies collectively shot 31 percent (18-for-58) from the field. From the foul line, they made nine of 18 attempted free throws.  

With the two-game setback, the Huskies still ranked second in the ACAC's North Division with a 9-5 record. That will be put to the test in their final six games, including next weekend against the Augustana Vikings, who are right on the Huskies' heels for that second guaranteed spot at the 2023 ACAC Women's Basketball Championships.  
 
With the Vikings holding two games in-hand on the Huskies, this coming weekend will go far in determining whether the Huskies have to follow a play-in path to continue their championship aspirations.  
 
With those six games also comes the continual opportunity to develop the team's depth, a challenge Vigilance was looking to strengthen.  

"It's really tough and that's what we're trying to get," Vigilance continued. "Our younger kids have to touch the ball more, they have to be more creative, and it's going to come after time.  
 
"We have six more games left to figure it out and hopefully by playoffs we got it."  
 
The Huskies hit the road next weekend for games against the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings. Tip-off Friday is at 6:00 p.m. followed by a 1:00 p.m. tip-off Saturday.