LETHBRIDGE, Alta. - The UBC Okanagan Heat women's basketball team came back from seven points down in the fourth quarter, taking Saturday's match by a score of 70-68 over the hosting Lethbridge Pronghorns.
Kelowna, B.C.'s
Jaeli Ibbetson, led the Heat through the first half with 15 of her team-high 23 points in the game's opening 20 minutes as the visitors led by 10 at half. Lethbridge, undeterred took control of the game in the third quarter, outscoring the UBCO 20-6.
With clutch shots from
Rachel Hettinga (Kelowna, B.C.) and
Aiko Williams (North Vancouver, B.C.), UBCO stormed back with 26 fourth quarter points avenging Friday night's two point loss. Hettinga, returning to UBCO's lineup, buried 10 points, while Williams scored a career-high 14 off the bench.
Also setting a career-high in a standout performance was the 'Horn's Piper Dobbelsteyn, who led her squad with 23 points.
It was a committed defensive effort for the Heat, holding Lethbridge to just 28 points in the first half. As a team, UBCO would finish with 13 steals and 22 points of turnovers.
Rookie forward
Tennyson McCarthy, from Lake Country, B.C., played a significant role in her team's first half defensive stand, recording five rebounds, a steal and a block in the opening half.
TOP PERFORMERS
Jaeli Ibbetson - UBCO Heat
The senior forward led the Heat in scoring, shooting 53 percent from the floor, and knocked down crucial free throws down the stretch. She added seven rebounds, two assists and a steal in the winning performance.
Piper Dobbelsteyn - Lethbridge Pronghorns
Nearing doubling her old career-high, the Edmonton product nailed 5-of-7 shots from three and shot 82 percent shooting from the field. Dobbelsteyn also chipped in four rebounds and two assists in the match.
WHERE THEY SIT
The win gets the Heat back to an even 2-2 record on the year, tied for sixth in the Canada West conference, while the 'Horns slip to 1-3 this season.
UP NEXT
UBCO's road trip continues as they head to Abbotsford for a pair of matches against the UFV Cascades next weekend. Catch the action on Canada West TV on Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 5 p.m.
