VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds women's basketball team completed a three-game swing through southern Ontario with a 2-1 record.

UBC beat defending Ontario University Athletics (OUA) finalists McMaster 73-71 in Hamilton, Ont., Sunday, a day after a 74-59 win over Toronto. The T-Birds opened the trip with a 73-62 loss to York on Friday.

"It was a good opportunity to play on the road and get the first first three U SPORTS games under our belt," said UBC head coach Deb Huband. "We are a much-improved team from last year with added depth and versatility, as well as a more dynamic style of play at both ends. We showed improvement with each game this weekend and are starting to get a feel of how to play together. The players battled the very tough, skilled and experienced McMaster team and found a way to win."
 

Forward Keylyn Filewich scored 31 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, both game highs, to lead UBC to the two-point win over McMaster, a squad that earned the fifth seed to the U SPORTS Women's Basketball Final 8 national championship tournament last year.

UBC trailed 66-62 halfway through the fourth quarter Sunday in Hamilton, Ont. A pair of Filewich layups late in the quarter gave the Thunderbirds a 67-66 advantage with 1:46 remaining.

An offensive rebound and put back by Filewich with 1:10 to go pushed the UBC lead to three. McMaster got to within a point twice in the final minute but the T-Birds did enough from the free-throw line down the stretch to earn the win.

In total, Filewich made 14 field goals, one off the school record, on 24 attempts.
 

She was also UBC's leading scorer in Saturday's matchup against Toronto, recording 21 points and nine rebounds. Guard Maddison Penn had 18 points, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks. The T-Birds won the first quarter by a score of 22-10, setting the tone for the rest of the game.

In Friday's contest at York, UBC was up 33-21 at halftime but the hosts overturned their deficit in the second half to earn the win.

The Thunderbirds have returned home and are preparing for Thursday's non-conference game against Fraser Valley. Tip off at War Memorial Gymnasium is scheduled for 6 p.m.