PRINCE GEORGE – Jessie Brown's team-high 21 points helped the Trinity Western women's basketball team to a 68-61 win over the UNBC Timberwolves Friday night at the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre in Prince George.
Brown, the Spartans third-year guard, was a powerful force from the around the perimeter, knocking down five of 11 shots from the three-point arc as Trinity Western improved to 4-1 in Canada West play. It was team's second-straight victory.
"There was a definitely a momentum exchange throughout the game," said Brown after the game. "They were very aggressive (on defence) they took away some of our looks so we had to work the offensive boards and rebound our missed shots, but we got it done."
It was the Timberwolves fifth-straight loss of the season who now fall to 0-5.
Forwards Tessa Ratzlaff and Kayla Gordon also contributed to the Spartans attack who each put up 17 points. Gordon was the team's top rebounder, collecting seven shots off the glass.
Timberwolves second-year forward Maria Mongomo led UNBC's offence with 21 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Madison Landry was next with 10 points.
"The team didn't look that on fire like the last game (against Alberta)," said UNBC head coach Sergey Shchepotkin. "I believe that's all about experience. There is so much up and down and it's difficult to get on that level that we were at last game. We are still working on it and I still believe the team has great potential."
The Spartans held a nine-point 39-30 lead at the half which they maintained until Timberwolves fifth-year forward Preety Nijjar hit a jump shot and Stacey Graham hit a three to narrow Trinity Western's lead to four.
Brown then went to work, knocking in a pair of threes to go along with a two-point lay-up and the Spartans took a 54-45 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Spartans maintained control in the fourth quarter until the final buzzer.
It was a back and forth battle in the first quarter. Brown drained a pair of shots from the three-point arc to spark a 7-0 Spartans run as they held a narrow 16-15 lead after the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Trinity Western went on another 6-0 run before Mongomo hit a jumper and then sunk a three-pointer to narrow the Spartans lead to two points. Trinity Western rebounded and outscored UNBC 17-8 for the remainder of the quarter to take a 39-30 lead at the half.
The two teams clash again tomorrow night at 5 p.m. at the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre in Prince George
"It would be good to start with the lead again, shut down (Maria Mongomo) and (Vasiliki Louka) their two main scorers," said Brown.
"We need to play more as a team," added Shchepotkin. "I told the players to think about what went well today and what went poorly. We'll have some changes."