Emily Kanester scores 10 points in a 19-9 run in the fourth quarter to help the Heat topple UNBC (67-61) in women’s basketball in Kelowna
Friday, November 13th, 2015
UBC Okanagan, Kelowna, BC
FINAL 1 2 3 4 T UNBC (0-3) 15 15 20 11 61 UBC Okanagan (2-1) 16 13 17 21 67
KELOWNA, BC – The UBC Okanagan women’s basketball team captured their second win of the season in their home opening weekend giving them a 2-1 record after a Friday night win against the UNBC Timberwolves.
UBC Okanagan was trailing by 4 (50-46) points at the start of the fourth quarter when fourth year guard Emily Kanester rattled home her first three of the night. She brought the home team within one in just the first seconds of the fourth quarter, Kanester sparked the Heat going three for three from beyond the arc in the next eight minutes, and a 19-9 run, and that put UBCO out in front for good. The final score for the game was 67-61 for the Okanagan Heat.
Emily Kanester finished as UBC Okanagan’s leading scorer. Knocking down 3-9 three pointers and finishing with a total of 18 points.
Maria Mongomo led the UNBC Timberwolves with 17 points, her slashing to the hoop was problematic for Heat defenders until she fouled out in the 7th minute of fourth quarter.
The full forty minutes was a physical toll for both teams as the game was very physical, resulting in a high number of fouls. UNBC overall had 30 fouls and UBC Okanagan with 21. The Heat earned more than half of their total amount of points by making 35 free throws out of 43 and UNBC weren’t as successful from the charity stripe converting (18-30).
Red shirt freshman Robyn Aulin-Haynes played in her first game this season, and in her Heat career. The 6-foot two post was impressive in her debut finishing with seven points, eight rebounds in 13 minutes of floor time. Coming off of an injury Haynes hustle was key, she made an important dive in the halfway through the last quarter keeping her team in possession of the ball.
The Timberwolves are blessed with size, starring in the post for UNBC on Friday night was Vasiliki Louka, the 6-foot three forward from Greece was a defensive presence that troubled UBC Okanagan all night.
Louka snatched a total of six rebounds to lead her team, and scored 11 points.
The size of UNBC was offset for the most part by the guard play of UBC Okanagan, who managed 16 steals and forced 28 turnovers while committing just 14. Both teams, however scored 14 points off of those turnovers.
UBC Okanagan’s Claire Elliott was a key player this game, both her and Chloe Kennedy were key to the UBCO defense. Offensively Elliott scored 11 points and Kennedy seven with nine boards.
The UBC Okanagan and UNBC Timberwolves teams will compete against each other once again Saturday evening at 5 p.m. for women’s and 7 p.m. for men’s.
~ Samantha Burgis // Heat communications