WBB: Turnover problems plague TWolves in loss to Thunderbirds

Women's Basketball
November 12, 2022

It is often said the team that wins the turnover battle will win the game. The UNBC Timberwolves struggled to take care of the ball, and the score reflected it, as the TWolves turned it over 29 times and dropped a 91-62 game to the UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday, November 12, 2022.

After a Sarah Kuklisin triple opened the scoring for the Timberwolves, UNBC went cold from the field, coming up empty on their next seven possessions. The home Thunderbirds were happy to take advantage, opening up an early 16-5 lead, thanks to back-to-back treys by Sara Toneguzzi and Emily Martindale.

The TWolves would settle down at both ends, but couldn’t chip into the deficit much, and found themselves trailing 27-15 after ten minutes.

The T-Birds looked to create offense in the paint, going down low to posts Olivia Weekes and Azayla Fortbauer repeatedly, and UBC bigs did well to make the TWolves pay inside, stretching the lead to 35-17.

UBC also did well to take UNBC leading scorer Alina Shakirova off her game, playing physically in denying the fifth-year the ball. The Timberwolves supporting cast struggled to find their scoring touch throughout the half, as UNBC shot just 33% from the field, while the Thunderbirds made 50% of their 34 attempts in the half.

At the half, UBC held a 45-29 lead, powered by 12 points and five rebounds from Weekes, and nine points from Martindale. Kuklisin paced UNBC with  10 points, to go along with two rebounds and two assists.

Sergey Shchepotkin’s team came out much more aggressive and stout on the defensive end, creating turnovers and looking to chip into the T-Birds advantage. After attempting just four shots in the first half, Shakirova came out applying pressure and drawing a number of trips to the free-throw line.

However, every time the TWolves looked to show signs of life, UBC would respond. First-years Cerys Merton and Taelor Coxford each made tough buckets to keep the lead around 15 points in favour of the T-Birds. Laura Garmendia Garcia did well to earn a trio of difficult buckets in the paint, but when the quarter came to an end, it was the Thunderbirds with a 68-47 lead.

In the fourth quarter, with the result seemingly decided, the Timberwolves did well to battle against an aggressive Thunderbirds defensive effort. Kuklisin, playing with four fouls, was effective in creating offense for Garmendia Garcia and rookie Amrit Manak. For UBC, Weekes continued to assert herself on the offensive end, with help from Mona Berlitz and Sara Toneguzzi.

Finally, the buzzer sounded and UBC had officially secured a 91-62 victory in their first game of the season.

Ball security proved to be the story, with the TWolves committing 29 turnovers, many leading directly to UBC fastbreak baskets. UNBC shot just 36.7 percent from the field on 55 attempts, including just 3-for-20 from beyond the arc. UBC shot 50.7% on 67 attempts from the floor.

Shakirova paced UNBC with 17 hard-earned points, while Kuklisin added 12 points, five rebounds, and five helpers. Garmendia Garcia was the other Timberwolf to reach double figures, chipping in with 10 points and five boards.

Weekes was the game’s high scorer with 18 points in just 24 minutes, adding seven rebounds. Berlitz and Toneguzzi added a dozen points apiece in the victory.

It is often said the team that wins the turnover battle will win the game. The UNBC Timberwolves struggled to take care of the ball, and the score reflected it, as the TWolves turned it over 29 times and dropped a 91-62 game to the UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday, November 12, 2022.

After a Sarah Kuklisin triple opened the scoring for the Timberwolves, UNBC went cold from the field, coming up empty on their next seven possessions. The home Thunderbirds were happy to take advantage, opening up an early 16-5 lead, thanks to back-to-back treys by Sara Toneguzzi and Emily Martindale.

The TWolves would settle down at both ends, but couldn’t chip into the deficit much, and found themselves trailing 27-15 after ten minutes.

The T-Birds looked to create offense in the paint, going down low to posts Olivia Weekes and Azayla Fortbauer repeatedly, and UBC bigs did well to make the TWolves pay inside, stretching the lead to 35-17.

UBC also did well to take UNBC leading scorer Alina Shakirova off her game, playing physically in denying the fifth-year the ball. The Timberwolves supporting cast struggled to find their scoring touch throughout the half, as UNBC shot just 33% from the field, while the Thunderbirds made 50% of their 34 attempts in the half.

At the half, UBC held a 45-29 lead, powered by 12 points and five rebounds from Weekes, and nine points from Martindale. Kuklisin paced UNBC with  10 points, to go along with two rebounds and two assists.

Sergey Shchepotkin’s team came out much more aggressive and stout on the defensive end, creating turnovers and looking to chip into the T-Birds advantage. After attempting just four shots in the first half, Shakirova came out applying pressure and drawing a number of trips to the free-throw line.

However, every time the TWolves looked to show signs of life, UBC would respond. First-years Cerys Merton and Taelor Coxford each made tough buckets to keep the lead around 15 points in favour of the T-Birds. Laura Garmendia Garcia did well to earn a trio of difficult buckets in the paint, but when the quarter came to an end, it was the Thunderbirds with a 68-47 lead.

In the fourth quarter, with the result seemingly decided, the Timberwolves did well to battle against an aggressive Thunderbirds defensive effort. Kuklisin, playing with four fouls, was effective in creating offense for Garmendia Garcia and rookie Amrit Manak. For UBC, Weekes continued to assert herself on the offensive end, with help from Mona Berlitz and Sara Toneguzzi.

Finally, the buzzer sounded and UBC had officially secured a 91-62 victory in their first game of the season.

Ball security proved to be the story, with the TWolves committing 29 turnovers, many leading directly to UBC fastbreak baskets. UNBC shot just 36.7 percent from the field on 55 attempts, including just 3-for-20 from beyond the arc. UBC shot 50.7% on 67 attempts from the floor.

Shakirova paced UNBC with 17 hard-earned points, while Kuklisin added 12 points, five rebounds, and five helpers. Garmendia Garcia was the other Timberwolf to reach double figures, chipping in with 10 points and five boards.

Weekes was the game’s high scorer with 18 points in just 24 minutes, adding seven rebounds. Berlitz and Toneguzzi added a dozen points apiece in the victory.