Edmonton, AB – Friday night at the Saville Community Sports Centre in Edmonton, AB the UNBC Timberwolves (2-3) dropped an 81-39 to the #5 ranked Alberta Pandas (3-2). Claire Signatovich led the charge for Alberta with 14 points on 7/10 shooting while Jenna Harpe added 13 points and a trio of three-pointers. Sveta Boykova responded with a game-high 16 points for UNBC to go along with 14 rebounds, four steals and three blocks.
 
Taking the floor for their first road game of the 2023-24 Canada West season, Sergey Shchepotkin's club came out firing. Rebecca Landry scored the first five points of the game and Adaiah Tupas-Singh and Bella Mesquita knocked down triples to stake the TWolves to an 11-0 lead. But the nationally ranked Pandas caught their breath and chipped away at their deficit. Veteran forward Claire Signatovich led the way with eight points and three rebounds as the hosts Kiah Easton-Ihediohanma hit a go-ahead layup with 20 seconds remaining in the first to give the Pandas a 17-15 lead. Rebecca Landry led the way for UNBC with five points while Sveta Boykova and Bella Mesquita each pulled down three rebounds. 
 
Alberta's stingy defense was on full display in the second quarter as they held the TWolves to just seven points. Sarah Kelib, Jenna Harpe and Brigitte Olson all hit treys for Alberta en route to a 19-point quarter themselves. Despite the deficit, Sveta Boykova showed zero quit for UNBC as she posted four points, and had a team-leading eight points and eight rebounds at half. Alberta took a 36-22 halftime lead into the tunnel.
 
The Pandas outscored UNBC 20-11 in the third quarter on the strength of two three-pointers from Jenna Harpe and a pair of layups from Claire Signatovich. Sveta Boykova and Adaiah Tupas-Singh did their part to keep the TWolves bench energized by combining for seven points. Boykova's four points came in a 38-second span, while Tupas-Singh was able to convert a highlight-reel 'And 1' play from down low.
 
Alberta's strongest quarter was the fourth as they outscored UNBC 25-6. Four of those points came courtesy of Sveta Boykova whose final stat line featured 16 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks and three steals. For her efforts, Boykova earned Earls Road Warrior of the Game honours for UNBC.
 
A quick turnaround looms for the TWolves who once again lock horns with the Pandas tomorrow at 4:00 pm PT.