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This weekend the Thunder Women’s Basketball team traveled to Keyano College looking to finish the Fall semester on a positive note, coming into the weekend with a four game winning streak. “We have been getting better each weekend and to finish this weekend on a positive note would be great,” opened Coach Valpreda. On Friday night, the Thunder jumped out to an early 6-2 lead and after a long bus ride looked good out of the gate. However, the Huskies bounced back and found themselves up 17-9 after one. The Thunder regrouped and battled back in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to four points. “Our second unit again did a great job coming off the bench. Geri Anstice did a great job in the post and our guards defended well."  Going into halftime, the Thunder were down 32-21. “Again we struggled to finish around the rim in the first two quarters. We were 28% from the field and that hurt us. Every time we cut the deficit to six or eight points, they (would) hit some shots that hurt.” In the end, the Thunder lost 69-53. “We played very well in the second (half). I was very happy with our second half, but sometimes the basketball gods don’t look favourably on you. However, they did tonight for the Huskies as Keyano made the tough shots when they needed to." Congratulations to Karolina Wieczorek for being Player of the Game.
On Saturday, the Thunder had an afternoon tip off with the Huskies. “We just needed to make a few adjustments and learn from our mistakes to be successful against this team," stated  Coach Valpreda. The Thunder came out strong, passing the ball well, rebounding well and running the ball in transition. “Today we finally had the chance to run and gun and we benefitted from Keyano’s mistakes.” Going into halftime the Thunder were down by just one, 37-36. “We did a great job at 'all the little things' in the first half and it put us just where we wanted to be." As the second half began, the Thunder quickly jumped into the lead. But Keyano would not go away quietly as again they made some shots from the perimeter and they had a strong presence on the court by virtue of their interior game. “Every time we scored so did Keyano, but the difference today was we went back and scored again. We stuck with it; we didn’t panic and we played together through a very good basketball game.“ After three quarters, the score was tied 51-51. “Before the fourth quarter began, I told the girls this is a great game and this is where we want to be before the semester break." The Thunder came out in the fourth, making some big shots and finishing at the rim. “Our defense stuck with it and we rebounded very well in the end.” The Thunder's solid play earned them the 71-65 victory. Alyssa Bridgeman had 22 points in the contest, Karolina Wieczorek had 15 and the difference maker was Shyanne Walton with 18 points, 10 for 10 from the free throw line and 2 for 2 from the 3-point line. “Shy stepped up big and made some big shots”. Congrats to Alyssa Bridgeman for being named the Player of the Game. The Thunder have a bye in the final week of the first semester and will take advantage of the extended break before coming back to a home double-header on January 8th and 10th when they will face the NAIT Ooks.

Photo Courtesy of John McIntosh