UBC Thunderbirds women's basketball

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UBC Thunderbirds
UBC Thunderbirds Logo.svg
University University of British Columbia
ConferenceCanada West Universities Athletic Association
Location Vancouver, British Columbia
Arena Thunderbird Sports Centre
Nickname Thunderbirds
ColorsBlue and gold [1]
   
Uniforms
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Home
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Away


Conference tournament champions
2007, 2008, 2012, 2015

The UBC Thunderbirds women's basketball team represent the University of British Columbia in the Canada West Universities Athletic Association of U Sports women's basketball. The Thunderbirds (originally known as the Thunderettes) have won the Bronze Baby a total of five times, including the first three championships, spanning from 1972 to 1974. The last two national championships took place in 2004 and 2008. Both victories took place against the Regina Cougars. In 2004, the Thunderbirds defeated the Cougars by a 60-53 mark, while the 2008 triumph resulted in a 67-46 final.

Contents

History

The 2003-04 season marked a breakthrough for Carrie Watson. In addition to All-Canadian honours, Watson also won the Canada West and Canadian Interuniversity Sport Defensive Player of the Year Awards. She would also earn a pair of university honours, capturing the Marilyn Pomfret Trophy, recognizing the university's Female Athlete of the Year, along with the Thunderbirds Performance Leadership Award. Winning the Bronze Baby National Championship Trophy, the program's first since 1974, ending a 30-year drought, Watson's efforts resulted in National Championship MVP honours. In June of 2007, Watson would become the program's first full-time assistant coach.

From 2007 to 2020, the Thunderbirds would enjoy a 152-58 won-loss mark in Canada West league play. Capturing the national championship in 2008, the program would reach the national championship game once again in 2012, settling for a silver medal. At the 2015 CIS Women's Basketball Championship, the program emerged with a bronze medal.

Retiring in 2021, Debbie Huband was the longest serving coach in the history of Thunderbirds basketball. As the Thunderbirds head coach, Huband captured three national titles (2003-04, '05-06, '07-08) and four conference championships (2006-07, '07-08, '11-12, '14-15). [2]

Season by season record

SeasonConf. RecordOverallConf. RankFinish
2019-20 [3] 16-43rd
2018-1914-620-85th
2017-18

Statistics

Individual Leader Scoring

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MIN  Minutes played
 FG  Field-goals  3FG  3-point field-goals  FT  Free-throws
 PTS  Points  AVG  Points per game
SeasonPlayerGPMinFG3FGFTPtsAvgCanada West Rank
2018-19 [4] Keylyn Filewich2060915206536918.54th
2019-20 [5] Keylyn Filewich2061216505138119.14th

International

Awards and honors

University Awards

UBC Sports Hall of Fame

  • 2016 inductee: Erica McGuinness [11]
  • 2021 inductee: Carrie (Watson) Watts [12]

Canada West Awards

U Sports Awards

Peter Ennis Award (awarded to the Coach of the Year)

Sylvia Sweeney Award (awarded to the Outstanding student-athlete)

Kathy Shields Award (awarded to the Rookie of the year)

All-Canadians

National championship MVP

  • 2007-08 Erica McGuinness, UBC
  • 2005-06 Kelsey Blair, UBC
  • 2003-04 Carrie Watson, UBC

Defensive Player of the year

  • 2008-09 Leanne Evans, UBC
  • 2003-04 Carrie Watson, UBC

Canada West Hall of Fame

Top 100

In celebration of the centennial anniversary of U SPORTS women’s basketball, a committee of U SPORTS women’s basketball coaches and partners revealed a list of the Top 100 women's basketball players. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first Canadian university women’s contest between the Queen’s Gaels and McGill Martlets on Feb. 6, 1920, the list of the Top 100 was gradually revealed over four weeks. Culminating with the All-Canadian Gala, which also recognized national award winners. [15] A total of 14 UBC players were named to the list. Although she played for Bishop's University, eventual Thunderbirds head coach Debbie Huband was also part of this list.

PlayerTeam(s)YearsAccolades
Ruth WilsonUBC1937-41
Nora McDermott UBC1945-49She coached the bronze medal winning women's basketball squad at the 1967 Pan American Games
Barb RobertsonUBC1959-64
Pauline GenzickUBC1966-69
Betty RossUBC1966-71
Joanne SargentUBC1968-73
Terri McGovernUBC1969-72
Bev BarnesUBC1970-74
Debbie PhelanUBC1970-75
Kathy Williams-ShieldsUBC
Laurentian
1969-71
1972-76
Liz SilcottConcordia
Waterloo
UBC
1972-79
Carol Turney-LoosSaint Mary's
Victoria
UBC
1973-80Recipient of the 1980 Nan Copp Award
Jessica MillsUBC1995-00
Kristjana YoungUBC2010-15

Thunderbirds in pro basketball

PlayerPositionTeam(s)YearsTitles
Jessica Hanson [16] Tipperary Knights Basketball ClubIrelandNone

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References

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  10. "Thunderbirds celebrate 2019 Big Block Awards Banquet". gothunderbirds.ca. 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  11. Aaron Martin (2016-04-04). "UBC's best honoured at 95th annual Big Block Awards and Sports Hall of Fame Banquet". gothunderbirds.ca. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  12. "UBC Sports Hall of Fame welcomes distinguished class of 2021". gothunderbirds.ca. 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
  13. "UBC Thunderettes (WBB Team)". canadawesthalloffame.org. January 26, 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
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  15. "U SPORTS unveils Top 100 women's basketball players of the century". saltwire.com. March 8, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  16. Wilson Wong (2020-07-31). "Jessica Hanson to start professional career in Ireland". gothunderbirds.ca. Retrieved 2021-04-18.