KELOWNA, B.C. – The UBC Okanagan Heat women's basketball team was unable to slow down a potent Trinity Western Spartans offence on Friday night as they fell 73-59 at the UBCO Gymnasium.
In the first meeting between the two teams since the opening round of last year's Canada West playoffs, a game that UBCO won 63-57, the Spartans came out firing early on, shooting nearly 60 percent from the floor in the opening quarter to grab a 21-17 lead.
The Heat would battle back in the second quarter and tied the game late in the half thanks to a 10-3 run. A three-pointer from fourth-year guard
Lauren Foullong of Orangeville, Ont., would even the game at 35 but a pair of late free throws from the Spartans gave them a two-point cushion at the break.
The third-quarter belonged to the Spartans thanks to the play of their two guards Shemaiah Abatayo of Vancouver and Cassidy Buchanan of Aldergrove, B.C. The two poured in 11 and 10 points respectively to stretch Trinity Western's lead to 12.
Despite six fourth-quarter points from
Stefanie Hart of Vancouver, the Heat were unable to close the gap as they dropped the first game of the weekend doubleheader.
Lily Pink of Kelowna, B.C., would lead the offence for UBCO as she had 13 points and seven rebounds while both
Tennyson McCarthy of Lake Country, B.C., and Hart added 10.
For Hart, the 10 points is a new career-high while McCarthy matched her career-best single game offensive performance.
Buchanan had a monster night for the Spartans, finishing with a game-high 27 points, six steal and five rebounds while Abatayo added 22 points, five rebounds and four steals.
The loss drops the Heat to 2-3 on the season and tied with the Spartans, also at 2-3, for fourth place in the Pacific division.
The two schools will rematch on Saturday afternoon, November 16, when they tipoff at 4 p.m. at the UBCO Gymnasium. Tickets for the game can be purchased at the door on game day.
