Playing last year’s OUA silver medallists, the Trinity Western University Spartans put together a strong effort but came up just short, losing 71-68 to Ottawa in pre-season university women’s basketball action Friday at the Langley Events Centre.
The Spartans outscored the Gee-Gees 17-6 in the first quarter, but the visitors clawed their way back into the game, before eventually taking the lead in the final frame and holding on for the win.
TWU held a 33-29 hafltime lead and was up by four, 59-55, midway through the fourth quarter, but a seasoned Gee-Gees team – one that played in last year’s national championship tournament – found a way to fight back and pick up the pre-season win.
“We played a very tough opponent today and it was a battle right through to the end,” Spartans coach Cheryl Jean-Paul said.
“We had some really great stretches for this early in the pre-season. It was great to see our defence create scoring opportunities that we were able to take advantage of at the free throw line and from beyond the arc. We had a strong game and we showed lots of positives in which to build upon.”
The Spartans’ next game against a CIS opponent is Oct. 12 when they host Windsor at 4:30 p.m. at the David E. Enarson Gym on campus.
