With files from Thompson Rivers Sports Information
KAMLOOPS - The no. 10 ranked UBC Thunderbirds (4-2) swept aside the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack (2-4) with a commanding 80-57 victory on Friday night at the Tournament Capital Center to further established themselves as the number two team in the Canada West's Pacific Division.
Lia St. Pierre led all scorers with 18 points in just 23 minutes of action while
Zara Huntley chipped in with 14 points and seven boards.
Devan Lisson (14) and
Candace Morisset (13) also hit double figures, as the T-Birds had four players score more than 10 points for the second straight game. UBC had nine players see more than 13 minutes of court time compared to the 'Pack who had just six achieve that same feat.
“We played a solid team game today," explained T-Birds head coach
Deb Huband. “We found our stride early and we were able to get some contributions from people who came onto the floor. I think our depth really helped us out. We were able to stay fresh the whole game.”
With the win, the T-Birds trail only undefeated and no. 1 ranked SFU (5-0), who are idle this weekend after having their games against UFV postponed due to an H1N1 outbreak on the Cascades.
No. 6 Victoria is 2-2 so far this year and is UBC's main competition for second place. They have one more game against TWU Saturday night and can pull within two points of the T-Birds with a game in hand if they manage to sweep the Spartans.
Friday's victory over the Wolfpack followed a similar script to the T-Birds 76-62 win on Thursday, as the two teams went back and forth early before seeing UBC seize control.
This time the visiting 'Birds took command with a dominant 26-10 performance in the second quarter.
After trailing 11-4 three minutes into the first quarter, UBC closed the gap to 20-18 at the end of the frame. With the game knotted at 25-25 just over two minutes into the second quarter the T-Birds went on a 19-5 run to close the half and all but put away their third victory in the last four games.
UBC wasted little time in the second half, stretching their lead to 22 with a Lisson jumper at the 6:57 mark of the third quarter and they led 62-45 after 30 minutes of play.
The fourth quarter was more of the same from the 'Birds as they opened the frame on a 13-3 run before cruising to the 80-57 win.
UBC closes out the first half of their regular season on the road next weekend as they travel to Manitoba to take on the Winnipeg Wesmen on Friday, November 27 before battling the Manitoba Bisons on Saturday, November 28.
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