Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – It was a night where the basketball was disjointed for the MacEwan Griffins, who just couldn't find a way get in a rhythm against the UNBC Timberwolves.
As a result, they lost by 17 points – 75-58 – and fell to 0-6 on the Canada West women's basketball season.
It was almost a death by a thousand cuts as the Griffins were behind just two after one quarter, eight at the half and 14 after 30 minutes before the ultimate result.
"Today certainly wasn't our best basketball," said head coach Katherine Adams. "I think it was one of those days where we had to find ways to compete when things (didn't work). We just couldn't find any rhythm and flow.
"It was tough to gain any momentum because we couldn't get any rhythm or flow going, really at either end of the floor."
Second-year guard Toni Gordon led MacEwan with her strongest game of the season, posting the second double double of her career with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
"I think she was the Toni Gordon that we know and love – just really dynamic, looking to run in transition, crashing the glass hard and finding her moments to get some easy shots for herself," said Adams. "She was 2-for-4 from the three-point line, which was really good to see. And she made a really good impact on the boards."
Gordon told UNBC Athletics that she was able to impact the game by knowing when and where to move.
"I think running the floor works really well for me and just knowing when to move," she said. "I kind of get this gut feeling when I know this is my shot, this is where I need to move, and this is where I need to be for my teammates.
"I just like moving to create opportunities for my team to also create opportunities for myself."
UNBC was led by Amrit Manak (18 points), while Rebecca Landry chipped in 14.
Ultimately, the road trip was another learning experience for a young Griffins team.
"I'm going to sound like a broken record," said Adams. "But it was another opportunity for our young roster to gain some experience and play against a different style.
"I said to the crew after the game, of our 12 dressed this weekend, for seven of them this is their first year wearing a Griffins jersey. It's a lot of change. It's a lot of new and it takes time to gel and find the chemistry and figure out what works and what doesn't.
"We're all competitors and we want to get out there and get after it and find success, but when that doesn't happen, what lesson can we take so that when we're on court again we're going to be better than we were today?"
