The University of British Columbia Athletics

VANCOUVER – A 19-point performance from guard Jessica Hanson was not enough for UBC as the Thunderbirds lost 79-61 to the Northern BC Timberwolves Saturday in Prince George, B.C.
 
Forward Keylyn Filewich and guard Gabrielle Laguerta both added 12 points. It was a career-best scoring performance for Laguerta. UNBC forwards Maria Mongomo (32) and Vasiliki Louka (22) combined for 54 points.
 
The hosts jumped out to a 10-4 lead but Hanson sparked an 18-4 Thunderbirds run to end the first quarter.
 
Hanson made a free throw with less than five minutes to go to start the surge. She then made a three-point basket, nailed a jumper after a Laguerta steal, and followed that up with another triple to give her team a 13-10 lead. Laguerta continued the run with a long-range basket of her own, before back-to-back jump shots from Madison Legault. Marcie Schlick, playing in her hometown, finished off the scoring with a bucket with half a minute left.
 


UNBC was able to stem the momentum, and took the lead for good in the second quarter on a Louka jump shot with three and a half minutes remaining. The Timberwolves led 36-34 at halftime, and went up by nine in the third. Six straight points by UBC closed the score to 46-43 halfway through the period, but the home side was able to move the lead back to nine.
 
The Timberwolves were able to build the advantage to double digits with a strong fourth-quarter effort.
 
UBC's conference record is now 3-3, while UNBC improves to 2-4. The Thunderbirds are back at home next weekend, with a two-game set against the Trinity Western Spartans Friday and Saturday at War Memorial Gym.