KELOWNA - The UBC Thunderbirds (16-2) held off another, late surge from the UBCO Heat (7-9) to secure a second straight three point victory over their sister school in the Okanagan and win their 12th consecutive game overall.
Mona Berlitz displayed dazzling dominance down low throughout the victory, racking up 27 points and 17 rebounds, both career highs. She also got to the line a career-high 18 times. No one has taken more free throws than Berlitz in Canada West this season, with the German-born forward also leading the conference in total points and siting second in rebounds.
Olivia Weekes put up another strong night for the blue and gold in Kelowna, securing a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards, while adding a pair of steals for good measure.
Sofia Bergman provided a spark off the bench for the 'Birds, tying Berlitz with a team-high six offensive rebounds and getting to the line six times despite playing less than 10 minutes.
It was far from a hot start for the T-Birds in The Furnace, as the UBC Okanagan Gymnasium is known, as the visitors could muster only 12 points on less than 12 percent shooting in the opening frame. Bergman hauled in seven rebounds in four first quarter minutes, and the Heat shot only 35 percent from the field themselves, but that was enough to take a seven point lead, 19-12, into the first break.
Berlitz began to take over in the second frame, pouring in nine points on an efficient 4-6 from the field, while also grabbing four rebounds. Offensively, she had little help from her teammates, as the rest of the T-Birds combined for only five second quarter points. Defensively, the team clamped down and held the Heat to just 10 points in the second, keeping UBC within striking distance, with UBCO taking a 29-26 lead into the half.
The 'Birds' field goal percentage climbed in every quarter of the game, as the team found its shooting stroke in the third and poured in 25 points. Berlitz, Weekes and
Stella Lagrange had seven each, with Berliz getting to the line eight times. UBCO picked up its offense at the same time however, dropping 22 points behind a pair of threes from Rachel Hettinga, bringing the game to a 51-51 tie going into the final frame.
The fourth quarter was a seesaw affair that came right down to the wire. After UBC tallied the first five point of the quarter, UBCO came roaring back with an 11-2 run to grab a four point advantage with less than four minutes remaining. The T-Birds then matched their hosts with an 11-2 run of their own to go up 69-64 and held off the Heat from there, making enough foul shots down the stretch to secure the 72-69 win.
Weekes stepped up in a big way in the fourth for the 'Birds. The third year forward dropped in a team-high eight points on a perfect 3-3 shooting, also grabbing five rebounds and playing nearly the entire frame. Weekes scored all 15 of her points in the second half, combining with Berlitz for 29 in the final two quarters, meaning the two forwards matched the entire team's scoring total in the first half.
With the victory, the T-Birds remain tied with Saskatchewan for first in wins in Canada West and will hope to finally see their stellar season acknowledged with a spot in the U SPORTS Top 10, recognition that has mysteriously alluded them amid their remarkable winning streak, which now spans 60 percent of the entire regular season.
UBC has a bye next week before hosting the Calgary Dinos on February 9th and 10th for the 'Birds last two games on the regular season, when the team's graduating seniors are set to be honoured. With the new tournament-stye conference playoff format, the T-Birds won't be hosting any post-season games either, so it's the last chance to watch the team as War Memorial Gym this season.
