KAMLOOPS — Coming into the season, not much was expected from the TRU women’s basketball team .
The Wolfpack have only one fifth year, four fourth years, and five rookies. But 10 games into the season, they’re 6-4, tied for sixth in Canada West.
“I’m not shocked,” said head coach Scott Reeves. “I think we had the potential to play with a number of teams. Canada West is a lot tighter than maybe people had thought at the beginning. With Regina being knocked off against a team we’re playing, Prince George, anybody can beat anybody.”
The Wolfpack have shown that at the halfway of the year. Four wins to start the season against McEwan and UBC Okanagan, followed by four straight losses to Saskatchewan and Lethbridge, before sweeping Mount Royal last weekend.
“If anything, it’s been a total team effort. I think that’s why we’ve been doing so well,” said Wolfpack forward Michelle Bos. “We get kids off the bench and we don’t get worse, we get better when we get our bench in there. We get fresh legs all the time, and I think that’s why we’re able to win these games. At the end of the game, fourth quarter, we’re still 100%.”
The by-committee approach that’s notched the TRU women six wins so far is what Reeves emphasized coming into the season.
“If you look at our stats, we’re pretty balance all across the board,” he said. “In minutes, in points, in rebound. It’s been a complete team effort this year.”
The one dip this season, four straight losses to Saskatchewan and Lethbridge — the two best teams in Canada West — stands out. The Wolfpack were outscored by an average of 80-47.
But it only amounted to four in the loss column, and now TRU turns its attention to the University of Northern B.C. who are in town this weekend for a two-game set.
Reeves expects a hungry Timberwolves team after being swept by McEwan last weekend.
“They expected to be a little bit more competitive at Grant McEwan. They were hoping for at least a split because they were playing so well against UBC, so well against Regina, so they’re probably a little distraught. They’re going to be fiery to take two on the road.”
