KELOWNA, B.C. – The U SPORTS No. 9-ranked UBCO Heat defeated the UNBC Timberwolves 85-58 on Friday, using a 21-0 first-quarter run to turn a 6-0 deficit into a 21-6 lead.
Leading the Heat was
Kanani Coon, who scored a career-high 29 points, including seven from beyond the arc to tie her for second in school history for most three-pointers in a single game, while adding four steals. Other key contributions came from
Sydney Lewis, who finished with 12 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks, and
Lily Pink, who added 10 points, eight rebounds, and four steals.
Stef Hart chipped in with 10 points, six rebounds, and two blocks.
For UNBC, Viktoriia Filatova scored 16 points, made three three-pointers, and collected five rebounds. Aurora Cabrera finished with 11 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks, while Hazel Phillips added 11 points and converted 7-of-9 free throws.
That 21-0 surge helped UBCO outscore UNBC 28-13 in the first. UBCO held a 14-5 rebounding edge, scored 12 points off eight UNBC turnovers, and got 10 straight points from Coon during the run.
Narrowing the margin in the second quarter, UNBC outscored UBCO 16-11, going 7-for-8 at the free-throw line while the Heat shot 5-for-19 from the field and committed eight turnovers. UBCO still reached halftime ahead 39-29, but after Coon's three-pointer made it 37-18 with 5:04 left, the hosts did not score again until
Kiana Kaczur's layup with eight seconds remaining.
An 11-0 stretch in the third moved the score from 44-31 to 55-31, with Coon hitting two three-pointers and Hart adding another. UBCO posted a 27-11 frame, shooting 9-of-20 from the field and 5-of-8 from three-point range while holding UNBC to 4-of-15 from the field and 0-for-6 from beyond the arc. The Heat also held a 14-7 rebounding edge in the quarter and entered the fourth ahead 66-40.
Three UBCO three-pointers early in the fourth frame sparked a 9-2 run. The Heat edged the Timberwolves 19-18 in the quarter to close out the win. UBCO shot 6-of-20 in the quarter but held an 11-8 rebounding edge, including 6-1 on the offensive glass, while the visitors went 5-of-12 from the field and 7-of-10 at the line.
Up next, the Heat travel to Kamloops, B.C., to face the TRU WolfPack on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 5 p.m. for another battle in the Presidents' Cup race.
Game Notes
- Coon's 29 points tie her for third-most in a single game in UBCO women's basketball history
