The UBC Okanagan women's basketball team has yet to lose in 2016, capturing five straight since the turn of the calendar, after their 29-point (71-42) win on Saturday night over the home town UNBC Timberwolves.
Saturday, January 23rd, 2016
Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre, Prince George, BC
FINAL 1 2 3 4 T UBC Okanagan (10-3) 12 22 17 20 71 UNBC (2-12) 15 8 9 10 42
PRINCE GEORGE, BC - The UBC Okanagan women’s basketball took their fifth straight win and second from the Timberwolves (71-42) on the road this Saturday night in Prince George. This win is the Heat’s fourth against UNBC this season, sweeping the season series, and gives the Heat a conference record of (10-3), their best record since entering the CIS in 2011 and drops UNBC’s record to (2-12).
Junior point guard, Claire Elliott led the team with 19 points. Elliott went (6-12) 50 percent from the field which was once again a key factor in the Heat’s win. Elliott was also able to claim three steals and five rebounds. Senior, Emily Kanester followed with 16 points and shot (5-13) 39 percent from the field.
Freshmen post Robyn Aulin-Haynes chipped in with 11 points for the Heat, who scored 27 points in the paint to UNBC's 17.
For the Timberwolves (2-12), Vasiliki Louka led the way with 10 points and nine rebounds, while her teammate from Greece, Eleni Steripoulou, chipped in with seven points, three assists, and two steals.
Kylie Pozniak added six for the Timberwolves, who were largely held in check by a strong UBC Okanagan defensive effort, yielding a 27.8 per cent shooting mark compared to the Heat's 38.8.
The game got off to a slow start on both sides, with neither team getting much going.
UNBC kept UBC Okanagan from making a field goal in the opening 4:25 of the game, but the Heat stayed in it, battling back to keep the Timberwolves within striking distance at 16-15 through the first quarter.
The second quarter was a much different story, as the Heat took over and got some separation thanks to some stifling defence and a 9-0 run to open up a 34-23 cushion heading into halftime.
The Heat continued the onslaught to start the second half, continuing a 17-0 run spanning the second and third quarters to open a 44-25 lead, preventing the Timberwolves from making a field goal in the opening eight minutes of the third quarter en route to a 51-32 lead with 10 minutes to play.
The Heat were able to effectively shoot the ball in tonight’s match up and went (21-55) 38.2 percent from the field compared to the Timberwolves (15-54) 27.8 percent. The Heat were also able to shoot an immaculate (6-15) 40 percent from beyond the arch compared to UNBC’s (4-18) 22.2 percent.
Every player on the Heat’s roster made the scoresheet tonight and 27 of its 71 points were from bench players.
The Heat will be looking to keep their winning streak alive as they will travel to Kamloops next to play the WolfPack on Saturday, January 30th tip off is at 2 p.m. at the Tournament Capital Centre.
~ Tia Sadler, Heat athletics // with notes from Geordie Carragher, UNBC Sports Information