SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The UBC Thunderbirds fell 64-40 to The Master's (Calif.) Mustangs of the NAIA in the opening game of the Westmont Holiday Classic women's basketball tournament Thursday at Murchison Gym in Santa Barbara, Calif.
 
Rookie forward Keylyn Filewich came off the bench to make five of her seven field goal attempts and tally 11 points to lead all Thunderbirds players.  She also grabbed six rebounds, as did senior forward Susan Thompson, who also chipped in with eight points on a 4-for-5 shooting performance. Andrea Strujic, a fifth-year forward, recorded a team-best seven rebounds.
 
UBC led 16-13 after the opening quarter, getting field goals from six different players, including Sammy Baumgartner, who converted a layup and the ensuing free throw for the team's final points of the period.
 
Strujic's bucket at 7:30 of the second quarter put the T-Birds up 22-15, but the Mustangs, the No. 16 team in the NAIA's Division I, rallied to end the half on a 17-2 run. They were able to extend that momentum into the final 20 minutes, to claim the 24-point triumph.
 
UBC shot 36.4 per cent from the field Thursday, converting 16 of its 44 attempts, but none of its nine from beyond the arc. The Master's was successful on 25 of 61 field goal opportunities. The Mustangs made eight three-point shots.
 
The T-Birds held a 37-33 rebounding advantage at game's end. The Master's forced 19 turnovers while surrendering just seven.
 
UBC will wrap up the Westmont Holiday Classic tomorrow with a 5:30 p.m. game at Murchison Gym against the host Warriors, who are ranked fourth in the latest NAIA Divison I women's basketball Top 25.