With files from TRU Sports Information
KAMLOOPS - With four starters hitting double figures, the UBC Thunderbirds pulled away in the second half for a 76-62 win over the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack at the Tournament Capital Center in Kamloops on Thursday night.
The win moves the T-Birds to 3-2 on the season while the 'Pack fall to 2-3 after their third straight loss.
Zara Huntley led the T-Birds with 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting and she added a game high nine rebounds.
Alex Vieweg (15),
Devan Lisson (11), and
Lia St. Pierre (10) also hit double figures as that quartet combined for 54 points, 23 rebounds, and 15 assists.
A sluggish first half saw the T-Birds up just 34-32, however, a few defensive adjustments helped the visitors pull away for their second win in their last three games.
“Both teams were able to get some easy transition scores in the half. We tightened up our defence and it helped us,” said UBC head coach
Deb Huband. “We were able to get some consecutive stops in the second half. We got some rebounds where we could push the ball. That was the difference maker in the contest.”
The T-Birds opened the second half with a 7-0 run to push their lead to 41-32. The 'Pack kept it interesting, pulling to within four following a three-pointer from Tracy Kocs with just 56 seconds left in the quarter.
Chloee St. Amour hit a three-pointer on the T-Birds next possession, as the shot clock expired, and UBC added another bucket before the end of the frame to lead 55-46.
St. Amour's three was a turning point in the game and the first year played a big role off the bench with nine points on 4-of-5 shooting in just 11 minutes of action, all in the second half.
“Anytime you can beat the clock you think you escaped,” added Huband. “Then you try and execute better the next time down. Maybe it did spur us on.”
The T-Bird lead balloned to 19 midway through the final frame before a small TRU run saw the final deficit just 14.
TRU's Jen Ju came into the contest as the country's seventh leading scorer but she picked up just four points on the night and committed nine turnovers as the 'Birds stifling defence never let her find her comfort zone. Kocs led the 'Pack with 14 points and eight rebounds.
The two teams meet again Friday night at 6:00 p.m.
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