KELOWNA, B.C. — The UBCO Heat women's basketball team (8-7) overcame the Mount Royal Cougars (7-8) with a 71-62 victory at UBCO Gymnasium on Friday morning. 

UBCO leveraged a strong 42-30 rebounding edge and while dishing out 23 assists to knock off the Cougars as they hosted their School Day Game in front of nearly 900 people, including 833 elementary, middle and high school childre.

Leading the charge for the Heat was Kanani Coon, who delivered 17 points and 11 rebounds, sinking three 3-pointers. Coon was particularly dynamic in the second half, sinking 16 of her 17 points in the third and fourth quarters.

Lily Pink chipped in 13 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and handed out seven assists while Tsuki Tsuzuki contributed nine points, five assists, and two steals. Tennyson McCarthy added eight points and three blocks, solidifying the defence.

For Mount Royal, Asha Donnelly topped the scoring with 16 points, hitting 6 of 11 shots, and 3 of 6 from beyond the arc. Temi Ajayi added nine points, plus two steals and four rebounds.

The Heat set the pace early thanks to am early 3-pointer by Aiko Williams, assisted by Tsuzuki, sparking a competitive first quarter. The teams exchanged leads three times, with UBCO keeping the pressure on Mount Royal. The quarter finished with the Heat narrowly leading 16–15.

UBCO built momentum in the second quarter powered by Sydney Lewis who scored eight straight Heat points at one point in the frame. Her jumper at 3:42 assisted by Pink, put UBCO up 28–24. Tsuzuki extended the lead with a 3-pointer at 1:58, assisted by Lewis. However, the Cougars would rally late and a buzzer beating layup from Donnelly tied the game at 33 at the half.

UBCO took control in the third quarter with a decisive offensive surge, led by Coon's pivotal plays. Coon's key 3-pointer at 3:18 put UBCO ahead 42–39, and she added another at 1:49, pushing the lead to 46–39. McCarthy and Williams also contributed crucial baskets. UBCO's defence was strong with three blocks, including one from Pink. The quarter closed with UBCO leading 51–42.

In the fourth, UBCO extended their dominance with an 11-0 run, widening the gap to 13 points with two minutes to play in the frame. Key plays included McCarthy's jumper assisted by Pink at 8:04 and Coon's layup in the closing seconds. Despite Mount Royal's late efforts, including a 3-pointer by Alexis Evans, UBCO's solid defence and timely scoring held firm, sealing a 71-62 win after both teams scored 20 points in the final quarter.

Next, the Heat will host Mount Royal to close out their weekend doubleheader on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 3:30 p.m. at the UBCO Gymnasium. Tickets for the game can be purchased by visiting GoHeat.ca/Tickets.

Game Notes:
- Coon's double-double was her first for UBCO, marking her eighth game with double-digit points in 11 outings this season
- Pink was three assists and three rebounds shy of achieving a triple-double
- Ten different UBCO players scored against Mount Royal
- UBCO, facing the Cougars for the first time in nearly three years, has won two of their last three regular season encounters with Mount Royal