Photo Courtesy: UNBC Athletics, Brett Cullen Photography

By Ethan Ready

Wall of Honour

Greece’s Vasiliki Louka inducted into Timberwolves’ Wall of Honour

Mar 16, 2021 | 5:39 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – As the UNBC Athletics program transitioned from the PacWest conference of the CCAA to CanadaWest in USports, the women’s basketball team had a new coach, in a new league, and needed a new star to lead them in a new direction.

With coach Sergey Shchepotkin bringing his European connections to campus, Vasiliki Louka arrived in Prince George shortly thereafter from Athens, Greece.

Over the next five years, the Greek forward went on to put together one of the greatest and most celebrated careers in UNBC history, making her an obvious choice for the inaugural class of the Timberwolves Wall of Honour.

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“Vasiliki arrived with very good European experience,” said Shchepotkin. “She brought great size, of course, but she also had a very good understanding of the game right away. We needed her to come in and lead us, and to be a hard worker, which is exactly what she did.”

In her first year, Louka stuck out in a year the TWolves posted a 2-18 record. There was much optimism surrounding her future, especially after posting 11.3 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.6 APG, and 2.0 BPG line. She was named team Rookie of the Year and UNBC Female Rookie of the Year at the conclusion of the season.

By her third year, Louka averaged just short of a double-double, posting 15.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game, finishing top ten in CW in scoring and blocks, and top five in boards. That same year, the Timberwolves clinched the Canada West playoffs for the first time in program history.

The growth and historic rise of the Timberwolves continued from there as they went on to clinch the playoffs the following two years as well. In 2019, the Timberwolves topped Trinity Western to earn the program’s first CW postseason victory. Both of those two years, Louka played a major role as she averaged a double-double each year, earning her second and third UNBC Female Athlete of the Year awards.

Louka’s career led to her name being written all over the UNBC and Canada West record books. She concluded her TWolf career as the program’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, and minutes, and top five in assists and steals. At the conference level, Louka retired top-fifteen in history in points, field goals, offensive rebounds, top ten in blocks and free throws, and top five all-time in rebounds, minutes, and double-doubles.

According to Shchepotkin, Louka was a turning point for the program. He says the all-star forward set the tone that will last for years.

“She had a massive impact from day one. She asked a lot of herself, and her dedication raised her level and the level of her teammates. I think Vasiliki did a lot to help make UNBC Women’s Basketball recognizable across the conference and the country. She deserves this induction so much.”

In Vasiliki Louka’s five seasons in Prince George, the Timberwolves increased their win total every year. From last-place in the conference to three consecutive playoff berths and numbers that will stand up for generations. Since graduation from UNBC, Louka has joined the professional ranks in Europe, playing for Helsingborg in Sweden’s top league, and is a member of the Greek National team.