VICTORIA, British Columbia –The Trinity Western Spartans lost 89-75 Friday night against Victoria in the first of a two-game series at McKinnon Gymnasium.

With the win, the Vikes improve to a 12-7 record, while the Spartans fall to 4-15. 

First-year Jessie Brown (Langley, B.C.) led the visiting Spartans, putting up 17 points, while fifth year Laurissa Weigl (Stony Plain, Alta.) and second year Kayla Gordon (Prince George, B.C.) followed Brown, both posting 13 points on the scoreboard.  

For the Vikes, fifth-year Jessica Renfrew led the Vikes offence, posting 33 points along side five rebounds. Third years Jenna Bugiardini and Jenna Krug also logged double digits, posting 21 and 13 points, respectively. Fifth-year point guard Cassandra Goodis, who broke the Canada West all-time assists record last week, had three steals, tying her with alumnae Lindsay Anderson in the Vikes' all-time steal record of 269.  

"Tonight's game is a reflection of how we've been playing all season long - moments of team play and fight, like the start of the third quarter, and then other moments where we can't put together more than one stop every four to five possessions," said Spartans coach Cheryl Jean-Paul. "Giving up almost 30 points in two quarters has been tough all season long but we have to build on the glimmers of potential that our younger ones have been showing with their opportunities.

"It's great to be able to score 70+ points, so I don't want to take away from that, but we need to make a statement on defence to be able to come out with a win. One more battle left tomorrow and another opportunity to grow as a program."  

In the first quarter, the Vikes proved their superior offence right from the first possession. Goodis commanded the floor, setting herself up for four early assists while Renfrew posted 12 points for the Vikes to allow the home side a 29-17 lead going into the second quarter.  

Although Trinity Western managed to slow down the Vikes' attack in the second quarter, it was unable to close in on the Vikes' leading margin. Brown was the standout player for the Spartans, posting 11 points in the quarter with the help of her three baskets made from behind the arc.   

The Spartans came out swinging in the third quarter, going on a 12-point run to reach their smallest trailing margin of the game, creeping one-point behind the Vikes. But Renfrew helped the Vikes regain composure as she posted back-to-back treys, followed by a jump shot to grow her team's lead. Trinity Western struggled to make baskets when they had possession, allowing the Vikes to recapture control of the game and advance to an impressive 19-point lead heading into the final quarter.

Trinity Western out-scored the Vikes in the final frame, but it wasn't enough for the Spartans as the Vikes managed to hold a comfortable 14-point lead at the final whistle to win the game 89-75. 

The Vikes and Trinity Western will be back at it tomorrow night at 5:00 p.m. There will be a Vikes Athletics "McKinnon Era" celebration as it will be the last regular season game to be played at Ken and Kathy Shields

Court in McKinnon gymnasium before the Vikes move in to their brand new home, CARSA, this spring.  Games will be broadcast with live video and stats at uvic.canadawest.tv. 

Game Notes: TWU will play their final game of the season Saturday and for Weigl and Chantelle Martin (Surrey, B.C.) it will be the last game in a Spartans uniform. 

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-UVIC-