Box Score On Saturday night at the Langley Events Centre, the UNBC Timberwolves showed tremendous grit through three quarters before falling 77-50 to the host Trinity Western Spartans (TWU). Despite the loss,
Viktoriia Filatova continued her strong play for the Timberwolves, leading the team with 15 points.
Aurora Cabrera was a force in the paint, finishing with 8 points and 8 rebounds, while
Claire Huang battled on the glass all night to secure a team-high 9 rebounds.
After TWU opened the scoring, Filatova quickly answered with a layup to tie the game. Cabrera then gave UNBC a 4-2 lead with a jumper off a Filatova assist. The teams traded baskets, with
Sophia Fuller cutting baseline for a smart layup and
Hazel Phillips hitting a jumper and free throws to keep the T-Wolves within striking distance. However, timely shooting from TWU's Cassidy Buchanan and Myrlaine Shelvey gave the Spartans a 19-12 lead after ten minutes.
The Timberwolves' defense sparked their offense in the second quarter. Huang came up with two key steals, leading to jump shots for both Filatova and
Amrit Manak. Cabrera continued to work inside for a layup, and Filatova connected on another jumper assisted by Fuller. Although TWU extended their lead with an "and-one" play, UNBC closed the half strong. Phillips hit a jumper and free throws, and Manak converted a three-point play to trim the deficit to 35-27 at the break.
UNBC came out of halftime with renewed energy, mounting a comeback in the third. Cabrera opened the scoring, and Fuller converted a layup after a Filatova steal and offensive board. Cabrera then made a huge defensive play, blocking a Spartans layup attempt. The T-Wolves' offense started clicking, with Manak, Phillips, and Filatova all scoring to pull UNBC within a single point at 39-38. Filatova added another jumper, and
Avin Jahangiri scored inside late, but TWU managed to hold a slim 46-42 lead heading into the final frame.
The fourth quarter, however, belonged to the Spartans. TWU opened the frame on a decisive run, fueled by 3-pointers from Myrlaine Shelvey and Cassidy Buchanan. Despite a jumper from Filatova and free throws from Huang and Phillips, the Spartans' perimeter shooting proved too much to overcome as they pulled away for the 77-50 victory.
