KELOWNA, B.C. – The UBC Okanagan Heat women's basketball team closed out their 2024 preseason with two wins over the MacEwan Griffins, picking up a 75-40 win on Thursday evening before adding a 59-47 win on Friday night.
In the opener between the Heat and Griffins on Thursday, UBCO used a big opening half, outscoring the Griffins 45-16, en route to a 35-point victory.
Senior guard
Lauren Foullong of Orangeville, Ont., went off for the Heat, scoring 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-5 from three-point range.
Lily Pink of Kelowna, B.C., and
Abby Smith of Winnipeg, each added 11 points as 10 different Heat players found the scoresheet in the win.
Friday night's game was a much tighter affair as the Heat held just a four-point lead at halftime but a 12-2 run coming out of the half gave UBCO a comfortable lead that they would not relinquish to sweep the two-game series.
Pink was a force again for the Heat, finishing with 18 points, six rebounds and six steals, while rookie guard
Tsuki Tsuzuki of Calgary, continued her strong preseason with 18 points, including hitting 4-of-8 three-point attempts, to go along with four assists and three rebounds.
UBCO, a Canada West quarter-finalist in 2023-24, will now turn their eyes towards the regular season which tips off on Halloween night, Thursday, October 31, with the Heat taking on the Thompson Rivers WolfPack in Kamloops. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. and the game can be seen live on CanadaWest.tv.
