Thunderwolves basketball teams head south after successful home weekend

Thunderwolves basketball heads south once again this weekend, as Lakehead’s men’s and women’s basketball teams face off against the Waterloo Warriors in a doubleheader beginning Friday, February 1st.

Lakehead’s nationally ranked USPORTS #10 women’s team goes into the weekend at 14-4 and second in the OUA West. Waterloo’s women’s squad is 5-13, and 4-6 in their last ten. The Warriors look to defend their home court and separate themselves from the middle of the OUA West pack.

“Waterloo is a team that makes you work hard on offense,” Thunderwolves head coach Jon Kreiner says. “They have some tough players to stop on the defensive end of the floor as well.”

Waterloo guard Kaitlyn Overeem is currently averaging 12.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.6 steals per game.

“Kaitlyn Overeem is a very tough play to contain,” coach Kreiner says. “She can score in many ways and gets to the free throw line a lot.” Overeem averages over five free throw attempts per game.

Lakehead’s women’s squad looks to continue their strong play coming off last weekend’s sweep of the Western Mustangs at home.

“I will be looking,” coach Kreiner says, “for our team to be focused this week in practice on offensive execution, defending without fouling, and moving the ball on offense.”

The women’s games tip off at 6 pm on Friday, February 1st, and at 12 noon on Saturday, February 2nd, with the men’s games following.

The Thunderwolves men’s basketball team enters Waterloo at 6-12, in the middle of the OUA West pack. The Warriors currently sit last at 3-15. Lakehead is currently on a three-game win streak, including back-to-back wins against the then-nationally ranked Western Mustangs. Waterloo is on an eight-game losing streak.

“Waterloo is a solid team whose record doesn’t reflect their talent or how hard they play,” Thunderwolves head coach Ryan Thomson says.

The Warriors’ Nedim Hodzic and Simon Petrov currently average 20.7 and 16.3 points per game. Hodzic also averages 10.6 rebounds per game.

“Hodzic is a handful from the nail down,” Thomson says, “and Waterloo has a bunch of wings who can make shots and attack the rim effectively.”

Thunderwolves guard Isaiah Traylor currently leads Lakehead’s scoring attack with an average of 14.8 points per game but has also averaged 23 points per game in his last three.

Lakehead could potentially move up one spot in the OUA West with a successful weekend.

“Defensively we need to execute at a high level, and to gang rebound so that we can get out in transition,” Thomson says. “Offensively we need to continue to value our possessions by taking great shots and not turning it over.”

The men’s games tip off at 8 pm on Friday, February 1st, and at 2 pm on Saturday, February 2nd, with both games following the women’s matchups.

Basketball games are available via webcast courtesy of OUA.tv