Women's Basketball Huskies sweep Wolves to close out first half of play

The Keyano Huskies Women's Basketball team surged offensively in their final game of the first semester, earning a 93-47 win over the visiting Grande Prairie Regional College Wolves. 

Zera Panesa had 23 points to lead the Huskies, adding five assists, five steals, and one rebound as she earned Player of the Game honours. 

"I thought we played well as a team," said Panesa. "Pushing the pace and finishing was really good for everybody.

"I was pretty happy about that, that the ball was going in the basket today."

Panesa shot 60 per cent from the field (nine-for-15), including four three pointers, as the Huskies shot 54 percent (34-of-63) from the field as a group.

"We are a much different team when our guards are really aggressive," said Huskies head coach Dwayne Vigilance. "Not necessarily scoring, just pushing the pace, getting in the paint, and looking for the next open person."

Jayden Demchuk led the Wolves with 21 points and nine rebounds to earn the similar honour for the visiting side. 

Taking a 28-14 lead after the first quarter, the Huskies extended their lead to 33 points at the half. That lead crept up to 48 points at the end of the third quarter. The Wolves clawed back in the fourth quarter to win it by a 19-17 score, marking the final by a 46-point margin. 

Moiyan Toure added 14 points and six rebounds while rookie Keneisha Nepinak added 10 points and five rebounds off the bench. Fellow rookie Jaylynn Twin contributed 10 rebounds and six points off the bench as well. 

Gracie Reschke was second in scoring for the Wolves, collecting seven point on the day while Raylene Badger and Makayla Porteous each scored six points. 

The win was an abrupt offensive surge for the Huskies, who looked more dialled in than Friday's match, which was too close for their liking.

"I think we came in with more confidence," Panesa said of the day-to-day change. "We definitely knew what we needed to adjust from [Friday].

"Again, being composed and going up strong and finishing is what we did differently."

The Huskies bench outscored the Wolves 33-10 on the day to help aid in the offensive showcase.

The win cemented a weekend sweep for the Huskies, who moved to 3-3 with the victory, placing themselves in a good position to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference's (ACAC) North Division for the second half of the season.

Vigilance welcomed the results, noting how his young team had room to grow that would take place in the second half of the season.

"I'm happy where we are," he said. "I had no pre-conceived ideas of us being anywhere else. I think this is where we need to be.

"We're young; we have a lot of development left to go, but I think as we push into February we'll get a lot better."

Panesa agreed with that sentiment, noting the upswing the wins will put the team on as they prepare to have a month and a half off from regular season action.

"Ending off on two wins was definitely a good confidence boost for us moving forward and ending off the first half of the season."

The Huskies will open the second half of their season on the road against the Concordia Thunder (3-3) on January 14-15, 2022.

Their first home date of 2022 will be on Friday, January 21 when they pay host to the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings. Tipoff for that game is at 8:00 p.m.