EDMONTON – Jessica Hanson was the star of the show Saturday at MacEwan's Dr. David Atkinson Gym.
 
The senior UBC women's basketball guard scored a game-high 27 points – one off her career best – and was instrumental in the 14-0 third-quarter-opening run that pushed the Thunderbirds past the host Griffins 75-58.
 
UBC improves to 14-4 in Canada West women's basketball league play, while the loss drops the Griffins to 2-14.

The Thunderbirds dominated in the paint and also got important contributions from Keylyn Filewich, who had 21 points on 9-for-11 shooting from the field, and Kate Johnson, with a game-high seven assists for a second-consecutive night. Filewich recorded her 500th field goal in Canada West conference play. 

"We had some timely steals and generated some offence that way," said UBC head coach Deb Huband of their second-half surge that led to their sixth-straight victory. "I think our defence was more on point and we started rebounding the ball a lot better in the second half."

The teams went into the break tied 36-36, before Hanson's jump shot early in the third quarter sparked an offensive outburst that changed the game. A Filewich free throw made it 39-36. Then Hanson converted another jumper, stole the ball on the next possession, and made the ensuing layup to force a MacEwan timeout at 43-36 with eight minutes left in the third.

With six and half to go, Hanson extended UBC's edge to 45-36 after grabbing an offensive rebound and making the put-back basket. Less than a minute later, she nailed a three-point shot to push the 'Birds' lead to double digits at 48-36.

Johnson finished the run with a jumper just before the halfway mark of the third quarter.

UBC was able to extend the gap between the teams in the fourth, and complete the weekend sweep after last night's 83-69 triumph.
 

It was a tale of two quarters in the first half for the Griffins as they entered the second down eight points before finding their shooting stroke, going red hot from three, while the Thunderbirds went cold. 

"I thought the first half was some of the most inspired basketball we've played all season," said MacEwan head coach Katherine Adams. "We came out to compete, we battled – our connection was great, everyone came in and found a way to contribute. It was an exciting brand of basketball for us."

The Griffins kicked up their intensity on defence to start the second quarter resulting in a few turnovers and fast-break points, including a huge block by Drew Knox that set up Mackenzie Farmer for a three to pull the Griffins within three. MacEwan then took its first lead of the game, capping off a 12-0 run with a Rachel Hare three go up 25-23.
 
Farmer would continue to take over for the Griffins, making a few tough contested shots including a running layup that narrowly beat the shot clock.

"Mackenzie scored for us and we've come to expect that from her every game," said Adams. "It's what she does and what she does well for us."

She would lead all Griffins players with 17 points and six rebounds while Shannon Majeau had 12 points and five rebounds, while Darian Mahmi chipped in 11 points. 
 
Farmer would outdo herself one more time before the half was up, drilling an elbow jumper at the buzzer to send the Griffins into the half knotted at 36-36.
 
MacEwan hosts its last two home games of the regular season when they face Lethbridge Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. UBC is heading into a bye week and will next host Winnipeg on the weekend of Feb. 7-8. The Friday contest will be the 2020 Courtside game.