VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds overpowered the Northern BCTimberwolves for a commanding 93-79 bounce-back victory in their final home game of the regular season. With the victory, the 'Birds are now just two points back of a first round playoff bye and the fifth seed in the Canada West.
 
All five UBC starters reached double-digits in scoring, including a standout performance by Jessica Hanson. The fourth-year guard shot 54 per cent from the field and tied her season high with 19 points - adding five assists. Maddison Penn earned a double-double with 20 points and 10 boards in 29 minutes, while Madison Legault also matched her season high in scoring with 12 points. 
 

?? WBB | @UBCWBBall gets the weekend split after tonight's 93-79 victory vs. @UNBCATHLETICS. The 'Birds had a great 1st and 3rd quarter, and tonight's starters all scored in double digits!#GoBirdsGo pic.twitter.com/53kYWrw1at

— UBC Thunderbirds / @UBCTBirds (@ubctbirds) January 27, 2019

UNBC also had five players reach double digits with Madison Landry and Vasiliki Louka leading the way, each totaling a team-high 19 points, Alina Shakirova had 18 points and seven boards off the bench. Maria Mongomo racked up a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds while Abby Gibb chipped in with 11 points.
 
Prior to tip-off, UBC head coach Deb Huband was honoured for reaching her 500th career coaching victory against Trinity Western two weeks ago, and now sits at 503 total victories.
 

?? WBB | Ahead of @UBCWBBall matchup against @UNBCATHLETICS, head coach @DebHuband was honoured for achieving her 500th career coaching victory (Jan 12 vs TWU). Congratulations Deb on the fantastic achievement & for joining rare & elite company across ???? in the 500 club! ???? pic.twitter.com/TnvrHZqake

— UBC Thunderbirds / @UBCTBirds (@ubctbirds) January 27, 2019

"I think we learned a lot from last night's loss," said Huband. "I think we came out today more prepared to control what we can control and how we wanted to play with good team play, recognition and communication. I think we let that slide yesterday and let the game go by but tonight we executed throughout the game offensively and defensively."


 
The two teams traded blows early as the first quarter unfolded in stark contrast to the night before. With the score knotted up at 10-10 midway through the quarter, the Thunderbirds went on a monster 15-2 run to finish the first up 27-19. Shakirova hit a corner three to start the second quarter for the Timberwolves, but Gabrielle Laguerta found a cutting Dina Strujic for an easy two and Kate Johnson made it 35-20. Penn hit her first triple and T-Birds took a comfortable 50-37 lead into halftime.
 
Coach Huband knew her team had to sustain their first half surge for an important result on home court.
 
"It's a 40-minute game," added Huband. "You want keep it going from possession to possession but I think we came out with a really good focus and took responsibility to have a better performance tonight."


 
Hanson hit a pull-up jumper from the free throw line early in the third and Hailey Counsell drilled from deep to extend the UBC lead to 58-39. Penn nailed her second three for a 62-41 cushion before finding a wide open Counsell for her second triple of the quarter and a twenty-two point advantage. Abby Gibb connected from beyond the arc for the Timberwolves to cut the deficit to 88-70 in the fourth, but the home team continued to click on offense en route to victory.
 
The Thunderbirds will close out their regular season with a trip to Edmonton to take on the fourth-place Pandas (14-4) Friday and Saturday to determine their playoff positioning. UNBC who sits in seventh spot in the Canada West standings will host the sixth place Lethbridge Pronghorns next weekend.