The Quest Kermodes women's basketball team is back after a trip to Vancouver Island that saw them split their two exhibition games on the road.
The Kermodes fell 48-34 to Vancouver Island University on Friday (Oct. 15) and then defeated defending champion University of British Columbia-Okanagan 58-53 on Saturday (Oct. 16).
Head coach Mike Woollard was satisfied with the two games as a whole.
"I thought the trip went pretty good," he said. "On Friday, I thought we played fairly well defensively but we definitely struggled offensively."
Woollard pointed out that the Kermodes were tied with VIU 25-25 after the first half but then only managed nine points total in the second half of the game. He said the second game was much better as the team started out strong and then managed to hang in at the end to defeat UBC-O.
"I was really pleased with the way we played in the final minutes," he said. "We made some key shots and free throws when we had to in order to win the game."
According to Woollard, it was a team effort but he did point out two players who impressed him over the weekend.
"I think everybody stepped up at some point but Ruth Thanert hit some big shots and free throws for us and I liked the way point guard Maja Smiljic played," he said.
He added that the team needs to work on their spacing and intensity of their cuts, especially in the offensive zone and they should have time to do so as they don't hit the court again until Oct. 28 when they play their final exhibition game against Langara in Vancouver.
Woollard also pointed out that injured all-star forward Krystal Schouten's status is still up in the air. She did not play over the weekend and is being medically evaluated later this week.
The team will kick off their regular season on Nov. 5 when they travel back to Nanaimo and take on VIU.
The men's team will be back in action on Friday (Oct. 22) when they host Capilano University. Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 7 p.m. and it will take place at the Quest gym. The men will play two more exhibition games on Oct. 29 and Nov. 1 and then begin their season Nov. 5 against VIU.
For more information on the teams, visit www.questkermodes.ca.
