VANCOUVER ­­­­– The UBC Thunderbirds, led by a double-double from Mona Berlitz, pulled off a convincing 67-52 victory over the Manitoba Bisons on Friday evening at War Memorial Gym. After a total team effort, the 'Birds improve to 11-2 on the Canada West season, while the Bisons fall to 3-10.
 
Berlitz led the T-Birds with 21 points, 13 rebounds and two steals, Hailey Counsell added nine points, two rebounds and two steals, while Olivia Weekes contributed seven points and eight rebounds.
 
For the Bisons, Emily Johnson finished the game with 13 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Emerson Martin scored 12 points, gathered four boards and stole the ball twice.


 
UBC dominated the glass throughout the night, ultimately out-rebounding Manitoba 56-32.
 
"We talked about it all game," said UBC head coach Isabel Ormond. "We need to keep our effort and intensity high, not taking a possession off against this team because they can compete, so it was great to finish possessions with a board."
 
It was an ideal start for the Thunderbirds, as they fed the post early for back-to-back layups for Berlitz and Weekes, but the Bisons' Martin responded quickly with consecutive threes, sparking an 8-0 run that only ended when UBC first year Jade Huynh dropped in a pretty floater.
 
To keep the intensity and pressure high, the Thunderbirds used hockey subs, constantly putting in fresh player from the bench to keep energy on their side, while also using plenty of defensive pressure. The T-Birds closed out the quarter with a 10-4 run, as Emily Martindale and Berlitz scored on the back-to-back plays to make it 24-14 at the end of the first frame.
 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by UBC Women's Basketball (@ubcwbball)

After finishing the first quarter with 16 points in the paint, the 'Birds continued to attack the key.  They went inside repeatedly, feeding Emilia Banmann and Weekes, while Berlitz remained the focal point of the attack wherever she was on the floor. The second-year breakout star found her way to the rim at will, leading the T-Birds to a 35-17 advantage midway through the second.
 
Back-to-back triples from Sara Toneguzzi and Hailey Counsell sent the Thunderbirds to half-time with a 46-27 lead. The team combined for 17 bench points in the first half and finished the game with 23.
 
The Thunderbirds kept riding their momentum into the second half. At the start of the third, Counsell knocked down a triple, then Merton set up Berlitz for an easy buck underneath. However, the Bisons, led by Emily Johnson, responded, as she converted back-to-back and-one opportunities.


 
The visiting squad kept fighting, but every trip at the basket was answered by the 'Birds, as they controlled the paint and the game; the home side ended the third with an 18-point lead, 61-43. Still, coach Ormond says there is still room for improvement.
 
"I think that we can finish more shots," added Ormond. "We didn't shoot well in the second half and I think that led to the Bisons finding some momentum. We need to keep keying on some shooters, be ready for some pressure, just as Manitoba did tonight, they never stopped competing."
 
The Bisons' Emily Mandamin tried to force a comeback, as she knocked two consecutive fourth quarter threes, but it was too little, too late.
 
The Thunderbirds will host the Bisons again on Saturday afternoon, back at War Memorial Gymnasium. Tip-off is set at 4 p.m. (PT). Find tickets here. Stream the game live or on demand, on Canada West TV.