KELOWNA, B.C. – Fifth-year guard
Lily Pink put together her best game of the young season to lead the U SPORTS No. 8-ranked UBCO Heat women's basketball team to a 71-53 victory over the UFV Cascades on Saturday afternoon at the UBCO Gymnasium.
Pink, a Kelowna, B.C., native, was a force from the opening tip and finished the game with a career-high 22 points to go along with seven rebounds and three assists.
Fourth-year guard
Kanani Coon also had a big game for the Heat, recording a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds while
Stef Hart complimented the offence with 12 points and four rebounds.
UFV was led by Miah Schuurman who finished with 18 points.
The opening frame saw the visiting Cascades keep things close against UBCO until a 10-0 run midway through the frame gave the Heat a cushion. Coon led the run, pouring in eight points, including two three-pointers, as UBCO took a 23-17 advantage into the second quarter.
The Heat continued to increase their lead in the second as they started on a 10-3 run, powered by three's from Coon and
Kiana Kaczur. Pink would score the final four points of the period for UBCO, giving 14 at the half as UBCO led 43-29 at the break.
As a team, the Heat shot 48.6 percent from the floor through the opening 20 minutes.
The Cascades would slow down the Heat offensively in the second half but the lead proved to be too much as Pink and Coon continued to hit the scoresheet while Hart helped see out the victory with six points in the fourth.
With the win, UBCO moves to 3-1 on the season while UFV falls to 1-3.
The Heat will enjoy a bye weekend next week before returning to action on Friday, November 20 when they travel to Saskatchewan to face the Regina Cougars. Game time is set for 5 p.m. and the game can be seen live on CanadaWest.tv presented by BioSteel.
