KELOWNA, B.C. – One day after an extremely narrow loss, the T-Birds got some measure of revenge against the UBC Okanagan Heat, winning 64-50 in Kelowna in their final game of 2025. A big first quarter powered the performance for the Thunderbirds, as they jumped out to a 25-12 lead after the first 10 minutes and never looked back from there.
Olivia Weekes led the way once again with 17 points and 11 rebounds for her second straight double-double.
Jaeli Ibbetson recorded nine points and 15 boards, while
Brooke Wagner and
Cassie Joli-Coeur each scored eight.
Lily Pink was the only double-digit scorer for the Heat with 12 points, six rebounds and four assists, as the T-Birds held the hosts to just 28% shooting from the field. Kanani Coon had nine points, four rebounds and four assists in support.
Eight different UBC players scored in the opening quarter, led by Wagner with six. She scored the first points of the game with a finish inside, and after UBCO kept pace for the first few minutes, the T-Birds broke away in the middle part of the frame.
A jumper from Joli-Coeur started the run, and by the time
Sara Toneguzzi scored a layup with five seconds left on the clock it was an extended 15-5 run over the second half of the opening quarter.
The remaining quarters were lower scoring, which suited the T-Birds just fine as they never allowed their opponent to get too close. While the Heat were able to cut the lead to single digits briefly a few times, they could never go further than that.
The most the home team got back into it was a bucket inside by Tennyson McCarthy on the opening play of the second half to make it 38-30 UBC. The T-Birds responded, however, with six straight points of their own from the combination of Wagner, Joli-Coeur and
Stella LaGrange to reassert control.
A late Toneguzzi triple put the cherry on top, as the Thunderbirds closed out a 64-50 win, their best points allowed mark since November 1.
The team now has six weeks until their next game, when they will take on Trinity Western at home on January 9 and 10.
