KELOWNA, B.C. — The UBCO Heat women's basketball team (9-8) bested the Victoria Vikes (9-9) by a score of 64-54 at the UBCO Gymnasium, sealing the win with a commanding 19-13 performance in the final quarter. 

This victory was pivotal as it boosted UBCO into third place in the Canada West Pacific division standings, surpassing the Vikes. The Heat capitalized on Victoria's turnovers, turning them into 19 points.

Lily Pink led the charge for the Heat with 16 points, three blocks, and six assists, while also nabbing three steals. Her 16 points are the second-highest she's scored in a game this season. 

Kiana Kaczur added 11 points and chipped in with three steals. Kanani Coon also scored 11 points, marking her third consecutive game with double digits. Her defensive prowess was evident with three steals and one block. Sydney Lewis contributed seven points and was solid on defence with two steals and a block.

Mimi Sigue was a standout for Victoria with 14 points and seven rebounds, adding two blocks and three steals. Abigail Becker contributed nine points and five rebounds, along with two blocks. 

UBCO edged Victoria 17-16 in a tightly contested first quarter, leveraging their shooting efficiency by hitting eight of 17 field goal attempts. The Heat outscored Victoria in the paint 10-8, helped by four second-chance points from offensive rebounds. Despite committing four turnovers, UBCO maintained a narrow lead at the quarter's end.

The Heat started strong in the second quarter, leading by seven points with four minutes to go in the half thanks to their dominance on the boards, out-rebounding Victoria 11-6. However, Victoria closed the quarter on an 11-1 run, taking advantage of UBCO's seven turnovers, including a critical jumper with four seconds remaining. Victoria held a slim 34-31 lead at halftime.

The Heat turned the tide in the third quarter, converting 10 points from turnovers to outscore the visitors 14-7. UBCO's defence was key, forcing nine turnovers and recording four steals, which helped sustain their momentum. Pink's 3-pointer at 3:17 extended UBCO's lead to six. After three quarters, the Heat led 45-41.

In the final quarter, UBCO clinched a decisive victory by capitalizing on turnovers and strong defence, outscoring Victoria 19-13. The Heat forced eight turnovers while committing only three, converting those into six points. The home team excelled at the free-throw line, making five of nine attempts, while Victoria struggled with fouls, resulting in seven personal fouls in the quarter. At the final buzzer, the Heat held a 64-54 advantage over Victoria.

Next up, UBCO will take on the Trinity Western Spartans on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. at the UBCO Gymnasium. Fans can purchased tickets for the game by visiting GoHeat.ca/Tickets.