The Quest Kermodes women鈥檚 basketball team established a new standard of excellence in Pacwest league history on Saturday (Feb. 28).
Quest completed an undefeated regular season by defeating the VIU Mariners 74-73, becoming the first team ever to record a compile of 21 wins and no losses.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great accomplishment and a big highlight for me but it only matters what happens in the playoffs,鈥� said Quest guard Shayna Cameron. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 really think about the record much, it鈥檚 always about how we can win.鈥�
And the team found another unique way to win on Saturday. They trailed by seven points after the first half and clawed back to take the lead in the fourth quarter. A big three point shot by Miriam Baumann, followed up by a free throw shot by Baumann and a pair of defensive stops sealed the deal.
鈥淲hoever wants it more usually gets the win and we showed how much we wanted it at the end,鈥� said forward Katrin Sandbichler. 鈥淲e executed what Dany [Charlery, head coach] told us to do, especially on the last possession.鈥�
Cameron had a team high 21 points in the win, with Baumann adding 13 points and 10 rebounds. Sandbichler recorded 10 points and seven rebounds and guard Andrea Eidsvik had 11 points.
Saturday was the final home game for Cameron, Sandbichler and Eidsvik and the trio reflected on their time at Quest University inside the Kermode Kave.
鈥淢y first year was the first year Quest made the playoffs,鈥� said Sandbichler, who hails from Germany. 鈥淚 felt every year since we have stepped it up. The gym means a lot to me 鈥� coming from far away and not having my family here, the gym and the team is like my family.鈥�
Eidsvik won provincial gold last year and saw the team make a huge transition during her tenure. She said the coaching staff deserves credit for Quest鈥檚 rise.
鈥淚 think a lot of our success has to do with Dany and Kim [Land, assistant coach],鈥� she said. 鈥淒any is like our dad and Kim is like our mom 鈥� they care about the team so much and help us focus on team work and not being individuals. I can鈥檛 say enough good things about them.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 home for me,鈥� Cameron said, of the Quest basketball program. 鈥淭hey create such a family and Dany makes you want to work so hard for him, he gives you so much.鈥�
The regular season may be over but the playoffs begin for the women鈥檚 team starting on Friday (March 6) in Abbotsford. Quest receives a first round bye but the girls are aware that the perfect season could ultimately mean very little with a loss.
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited but we have to play hard and every game will be hard,鈥� Sandbichler said. 鈥淵ou have to win or you鈥檙e out and anything can happen in the playoffs. If we lose in the playoffs, an undefeated season doesn鈥檛 mean much.鈥�
For more on the Quest teams playoff run, read the print edition of The 麻豆社国产.
