Morning Star Staff
The UBC Okanagan Heat stopped the UNBC Timberwolves of Prince George 67-61 in college women’s basketball action Friday night at the North Kelowna Campus
UBC Okanagan was trailing 50-46 at the start of the fourth quarter when fourth-year guard Emily Kanester of Vernon rattled home her first three of the night.
She brought the home team within one in just the first seconds of the fourth quarter, Kanester sparked the Heat going three for three from beyond the arc in the next eight minutes, and a 19-9 run, and that put UBCO out in front for good.
Kanester finished as UBC Okanagan’s leading scorer. She hit three treys and finished with 18 points.
Maria Mongomo led the Timberwolves with 17 points. Her slashing to the hoop was problematic for Heat defenders until she fouled out in the seventh minute of fourth quarter.
UNBC had 30 fouls and UBC Okanagan 21 in a physical tilt.
The Heat recorded more than half of their total amount of points by making 35 free throws out of 43 and UNBC weren’t as successful from the charity stripe converting (18-30).
Red shirt freshman Robyn Aulin-Haynes played in her first game this season, and in her Heat career. The 6-foot-2 post was impressive in her debut finishing with seven points and eight rebounds in 13 minutes of floor time. Coming off of an injury, Haynes hustle was key as she made an important dive in the halfway through the last quarter keeping UBCO in possession of the ball.
The Timberwolves are blessed with size and starring in the post for UNBC Friday night was Vasiliki Louka, the 6-foot-3 forward from Greece, who was a defensive presence that troubled UBC Okanagan all night.
Louka snatched a total of six rebounds to lead her team, and scored 11 points.
