The UBC Okanagan Heat can take a breath after winning their first game of the Canada West women’s basketball season.
On Saturday, the hometown Heat tasted victory for the first time in six regular season contests with a 73-68 win over the Mount Royal Cougars.
Fifth-year guard Emily Kanester iced the game with late free throws, as the Heat pushed their record to 1-5.
Kanester led the Heat with 17 points, followed by Claire Elliott who finished with 16 points and game MVP honours.
Chloe Kennedy had 14 points, while Jordan Korol just missed a double-double, as she finished with nine points and 11 rebounds.
On Friday, the Heat fell to the Cougars 68-54.
Kanester and Kennedy each scored 10 points to lead the Hear. Jordan Korol had a big night in the paint, finishing with 14 rebounds.
Beck Nash had 16 points and 15 boards for Mount Royal.
The Heat women will play their next games on the road, travelling to Kamloops to face the Thompson Rivers WolfPack in TRU’s annual Shoot for the Cure weekend, Nov. 25 and 26.
Heat men
The UBC Okanagan men slipped to 1-5 on the season after losing both ends of a weekend set to the Mount Royal Cougars.
The Cougars pulled away in the second quarter on Friday en route to a 93-74 win at the UBC Okanagan gym.
Mitch Goodwin was on his game in a losing cause, putting up a team-high 25 points for the Heat. Josh Ross and Brett Layton each scored 25 for Mount Royal.
On Saturday, the Cougars were even more convincing in a 97-68 victory.
Ross led the Cougars with 28 points, while Goodwin again paced UBCO with 23 points and seven rebounds.
Aldrich Berrios followed him with 16 points and six assists.
The Heat will be on the road this coming weekend, as they head to Kamloops for two games with the TRU Wolfpack.
