By Randy Lewis
What happens when you fall asleep for half a game against a very good team? Well, let’s just say even the Harlem Globetrotters lose sometimes. Even though the University of Calgary women’s basketball team has been as reliable as a German sedan this season, the Dinos found a way to drop a game last Friday night when they faced off against the University of Manitoba.
When the Dinos shot just 22 per cent from the field in the second half, the visitors made them pay. No matter how good your defence is, 22 per cent just isn’t going to cut it. The final score was Manitoba 80, Calgary 64; even though the Dinos had a half-time lead. Anne Smith was the biggest Dino-killer of the night, pouring in 28 points to put the second blemish on the Dinos’ record this season.
Saturday night was a big turn around for the home team as the Dinos came out looking for the split. Fresh off her record-breaking performance last week, Dinos’ standout Leighann Doan did her best Shaq impression with 34 points and 10 rebounds. Also, in an un-Shaq-like show of competence, Doan sank 14 of 16 free throws to lead the Dinos to a 74-68 victory and a weekend split.
Despite Friday’s loss, Calgary’s record stands at 8-2 entering Christmas break and the Dinos share the division lead with their arch-nemeses, the University of Victoria Vikes And even though the tough Friday night outing could have been avoided, Dinos fans should be in high spirits about this year’s edition of the team. After all, eight teams in the national top 10 play in the same league as Calgary, and Leighann Doan and crew certainly look just as formidable as any team in the running. They are 8-2 after all, not 2-8.
A big test in the Dinos’ future will be a two-game set against the Great Plains Conference leaders Regina just after the break. As for home action, on Jan. 14-15 Calgary welcomes Canada West newcomers Simon Fraser University to the Jack Simpson Gymnasium for a tasty pot-luck ass whuppin’.