Huskies women seek first win

Chris Unsworth in preseason action earlier this year.

The Dogs, who are currently ranked fourth in Canadian Interuniversity Sport despite graduating four starters last year, have lost all three games this season.

According to veteran guard Katie Miyazaki, the Huskies’ close season opening loss to the Regina Cougars was a better result than expected but their two consecutive losses to the Alberta Pandas were disappointing.

“We played well and competed hard against Regina,” said Miyazaki. Against the Pandas, “We wanted to at least get a split out of the weekend. It was a little disappointing with the results, as we definitely had opportunities to win both of those games.”

Regina is considered the nation’s top team — even ranking higher than last year’s champions, the Windsor Lancers — and for the Huskies to compete against them is a good sign of the Dogs’ potential.

However, the losses to the number eight Pandas highlight the inexperience of the Huskies’ roster.

“Against Regina and Alberta, we had times where we had mental lapses that put us in a hole and forced us to play catch-up,” said Miyazaki, but “considering the youth and amount of new players on our roster, I think we are playing quite well together.”

Miyazaki, who led the Huskies with 32 points against Alberta, said it will take time before the team clicks like last year’s roster.

“We definitely do not have the same chemistry as last year, but that was sort of to be expected. The chemistry will come with time as we play more games together.”

When the Dogs tip off against the Pronghorns, they will need a strong showing from other starters like Mary Hipperson and Kabree Howard. Rookie Dalyce Emmerson will have to continue her strong play.

Emmerson put up a double-double against Regina and had 13 points and 15 rebounds against Alberta.

“Our defence will always keep us in games, but on offence we need a few more players to step up and score if we want to win,” said Miyazaki.

Huskies men look to rebound

Following an absolute pounding of the Regina Cougars in the Huskies’ season opener, the Dogs men’s basketball team fell twice to the Alberta Golden Bears last weekend.

They will be looking to get back on track Nov. 18 when they also host the Lethbridge Pronghorns at home.

“I expect [Lethbridge] will be a very tough team to play against. They’ve added some new recruits and they have some very, very strong guards that will definitely challenge us,” said Huskies fifth-year forward Chris Unsworth.

“For us, the key is to play our game instead of adapting to theirs. Our game is to run the floor and to utilize our athleticism, and we didn’t really do that too much against Alberta.”

In both games against Alberta, weak play in the fourth quarter cost the Huskies a pair of wins.

For instance, leading 57-52 on Nov. 11, the Dogs were out-rebounded and turned the ball over several times in the final frame, allowing the Bears to win 77-71.

Unsworth said the Huskies will have to limit those late-game slip-ups if they want to win against the Pronghorns.

“We just have to clean up some details on both offence and defence, and just kind of try and do the little things right throughout the game,” he said.

Nolan Brudehl led the Huskies against Alberta with 27 points while Jamelle Barrett added 22 and Unsworth put up 18.

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File photo: Raisa Pezderic/Photo Editor