CALGARY – The UBC Okanagan Heat women's basketball team kicked off 2025 with a pair of exhibition contests against the Calgary Dinos in Calgary last week.
 
With the Heat facing a bye week in their regular season schedule when Canada West action resumes this upcoming weekend, the games were an opportunity for the team to see some live action against a conference opponent and build some experience heading into the push for the playoffs.
 
On Thursday evening, the Heat fell 61-47 to the host Dinos. The matchup was a back-and-forth affair as Calgary roared out to a big lead after the opening quarter, only to see UBCO trail by just four, 32-28, at the break. However, Calgary's stronger shooting proved to be the difference on the night, as they hit 36 percent of their shots compared to 28 percent for the Heat to pick up the win.
 
Lauren Foullong of Orangeville, Ont., led the way for UBCO with 13 points thanks to four three-pointers in the game, to go with three assists. Rookie Tsuzi Tsuzuki of Calgary, playing her first university game in her hometown, added eight points on 42.9 percent shooting along with four rebounds.
 
On Friday, the two teams faced off once again with the Dinos once again jumping out to an early lead en route to a 68-49 victory.
 
Tsuzuki and Lily Pink of Kelowna, B.C., each posted 11 points in the setback while Aiko Williams of North Vancouver, B.C., had a good game off the bench, scoring nine points in 15 minutes, including hitting two three-pointers.
 
UBCO will resume their regular season schedule on Friday, January 17 when they head back to Alberta to take on the Alberta Pandas in Edmonton. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. PT and the game can be seen live on CanadaWest.tv presented by BioSteel.