HUSKIES HOST PAIR OF B.C. TEAMS2013-01-16

In their first home games of 2013, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies will host a pair of B.C. teams on the weekend.

UBC Okanagan Heat hits Saskatoon Friday, while the Thompson Rivers WolfPack will face the Huskies Saturday.

After opening the second half with a split on the road, the women’s basketball team will look for strong play against the Pacific Division foes.

The Huskies (6-6) nearly pulled off an upset of the No. 1 Fraser Valley Cascades on the weekend, and followed the game up with a 66-51 win over the Trinity Western Spartans a night later.

UBC Okanagan enters the weekend in fifth in the Pacific Division with a 5-8 record, while Thompson Rivers (10-3) has rode a six game win streak to second place.

Reigning Canada West Rookie of the Year Dalyce Emmerson continues to lead her team tallying 18.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Fourth-year guard Kiera Lyons has also been strong in 2012-13 with 14.8 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game.

Sarah Allison and Emily Kanester have led the Heat through 13 games this season. Allison leads the team with 15.7 points per game, while Kanester adds another 11.1. Madison Kaneda has been consistent on the boards with 6.7 rebounds a night.

Three members of the WolfPack average double-digits nightly including star post Diane Schuetze. Schuetze averages a double-double with 19.2 points and 12.4 boards. Jen Ju scores 16.8 a night and Taiysa Worsfeld adds another 11.1.

The Huskies are 9-0 against the WolfPack since 2005-06 and 1-0 against the Heat, who joined the Canada West last year.

UBC O and TRU will also face the Alberta Pandas in the weekend series. Thompson Rivers is in Edmonton Friday, while the Heat will face the Bears Saturday night.

The women will tip off at 6:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the tilts. Both games will be webcast on www.canadawest.tv.