KELOWNA, B.C. — The UBCO Heat women's basketball team (4-3) triumphed over the UNBC Timberwolves (0-6) 72-48 on Friday night, showcasing a commanding 49-31 rebounding edge and netting 29 points off turnovers at the UBCO Gymnasium.

Lily Pink spearheaded the scoring for the Heat with 20 points and contributed 10 rebounds, including three 3-pointers. Aiko Williams chipped in 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds, with an impressive six on the offensive end. Tsuki Tsuzuki added eight points, recorded four assists, and secured three rebounds. Kiana Kaczur scored seven points and registered three steals, complementing her four assists.

Viktoriia Filatova led UNBC with 12 points, hitting two 3-pointers and contributing two steals. Amrit Manak matched Filatova's point total with 12, hitting one 3-pointer and also recording two steals. 

The game began with the Heat seizing control early, as Aiko Williams opened the scoring with a 3-pointer assisted by Temi Aina just six seconds into the game. UBCO maintained momentum with strong defence, highlighted by Pink's steal and layup, giving them a 5–4 lead. They extended their advantage through a series of successful plays in the paint, including layups from Tennyson McCarthy and Tsuzuki, while Williams added another layup to widen the margin. The Heat concluded the first quarter with a rapid scoring burst, building a 17–8 lead over UNBC.

UBCO extended its lead with a strong second quarter, highlighted by a 14–1 run with key contributions from both Pink with a jumper and Williams with a 3-pointer. UBCO capitalized on UNBC turnovers to maintain their momentum, with Stefanie Hart adding a layup and a free throw to widen the gap. Despite some defensive pressure from UNBC, UBCO's advantage remained substantial, closing the quarter with a 37–19 lead.

UBCO maintained control in the third quarter, highlighted by Pink's three-pointer at 8:25, which extended their lead to 21 points. Despite a push from UNBC, which included a pair of three-pointers, UBCO's defence and rebounding efforts, led by Hart and Williams, kept the momentum in their favour. Pink added another three-pointer with three minutes remaining in the frame, further solidifying their advantage. The quarter ended with UBCO and UNBC each scoring 12 points, preserving UBCO's lead at 49-31 heading into the final quarter.

The Heat extended their lead significantly in the fourth quarter, with a strong showing led by Kaczur's three-pointer early on which pushed their lead to 25 points, their largest of the match. The team maintained control throughout, capitalizing on turnovers and scoring efficiently from the free-throw line. Pink contributed crucial points with a three-pointer and additional free throws, helping the Heat to maintain their advantage. The home team outperformed UNBC, both in the paint and from the bench, and ended the game with a decisive 72-48 victory.

In their next game, UBCO will host the Timberwolves at UBCO Gymnasium on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the game can be purchased by visiting GoHeat.ca/Tickets.

Game Notes:
- Pink's 20 points were a season-high, one off her career-high with the Heat
- Pink's double-double was the fourth of her Heat career and first this season
- Williams' nine rebounds and Hart's eight rebounds were the most in a single game in their UBCO careers
- the Heat were playing without regulars Kanani Coon and Sydney Lewis