The University of British Columbia Athletics

VANCOUVER - On the opening night of their double header against the Mount Royal University Cougars, the UBC Thunderbirds prevailed with a 67-55 win away from home.
 
Maggie Sundberg got the Thunderbirds the game's opening basket and promptly went down the floor and scored another layup to get UBC rolling. Four-nothing with under a minute gone and the game went on to continue in much the same vein for the 'Birds going forward.
 
Kris Young had a dominant opening quarter grabbing four early boards, two of which were on the offensive end, and six points as UBC stormed out of the blocks to a 22-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
The scoring eased up in the second quarter; both teams having real trouble shooting from beyond the arc. UBC went 0-for-4 in the first half while MRU only managed 1 of 12 attempted 3-point efforts. The Cougars only make came in the final shot of the half, reducing the Thunderbirds lead to nine points and pulling themselves within touching distance heading into the break.
 
Mount Royal closed the game to two points halfway through the third quarter but that was the closest they came to putting the 'Birds under any real pressure. Jaime Hills potted one of only two 3-pointers they made on the evening and UBC pulled away on the scoreboard once more.
 
The Thunderbirds continued to extend their lead in the fourth outscoring the Cougars 17-12 in the final quarter and closed it out comfortably down the stretch.
 
Young started the game well and finished it exactly the same. She ended with 27 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and three steals in just 27 minutes of work.
 
UBC shot above 40 per cent from the field for the first time in four games, not since Manitoba on Nov. 23 had they come close to their field goal percentage of tonight (45.2 per cent). They also outrebounded the Cougars 47-33 but both teams will be kicking themselves for committing twenty turnovers each.
 
The win moves UBC to 8-5 on the season, still good for second in the Pacific division, while MRU drop to 1-12.
 
The two teams match up again tomorrow afternoon in Calgary at 4 p.m. PT.