Steven Lin, Heat Sports Information
KELOWNA, B.C. – Both Vanessa Botteselle and Jordan Korol finished with career highs for UBC Okanagan but the visiting Brandon Bobcats were able to hold on, and send the Heat to a 82-78 loss in a Saturday night Canada West women's basketball game in Kelowna.
Both Korol, the fourth year forward from Coldstream, BC, and Botteselle, the fifth year guard from North Vancouver, would finish with 24 points, a game-high, and a career-high for both of them.
Ana Evans would lead UBCO with eight rebounds, both Korol and Katie Punia hauled in seven for the Heat. For Evans, the fourth year transfer forward, in her second year with the Heat also had a career high in points as she hit for 17 on the night. The 72 points were the most by UBCO this season and more then they scored in 20 games last year, where they only topped 70 twice.
Four players would do most of the damage for Brandon as they took both games in Kelowna. Lauren Anderson went for 19 points and a game high 13 rebounds, Adrianna Proulx added 16 points, while Hailey Maas and Logan Biccum finished with 14 and 13 points respectively.
A better start for UBCO on Saturday allowed the Heat to stay in the game until the final seconds. After an Anastasia Evans three reduced the lead to three (81-78) with 1:21 to play, it was Botteselle with a steal from Brandon in their next possession. Unfortunately on her way to the rim the ball was knocked loose and turned over back to the Bobcats.
Forced to foul UBCO could get no closer as Brandon made a free throw to extend the lead to four. A Braxtyn Horbay three at the buzzer just missed. Final score 82-78.
The loss drops UBC Okanagan to 0-4, while the Bobcats improve to .500 on the season at 2-2.
Coaches comments:
Head first year head coach Bobby Mitchell was very pleased with his teams performance, commenting on how this was the first game where his team played hard for a full 40 minutes.
"We challenged them to battle for 40 minutes and I think this is the first game that we put an entire game together. Thats a good team we played and our compete level matched them, we made a couple good adjustments for day 2 and im proud of our team."
What's Next:
The Heat women's basketball team will continue their home stand this upcoming weekend when they host the Lethbridge Pronghorns (2-0). Friday night will be a 6 p.m. PST tip-off. Brandon (2-2) will return to their home court where they continue the Great Plains conference battle of big cats when they host the Regina Cougars (2-2). Friday (Nov. 9) night the tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CST.