LANGLEY, B.C. – Trinity Western second-year forward Nicole Fransson (Edmonton) had a career-high 26 points to lead the Spartans to a 63-52 win over UNBC to give TWU its first win of the season Saturday at the Langley Events Centre. 

Fransson, who was the Canada West Rookie of the Year last season, shot 66.7 per cent (12-18) from the field, while grabbing seven rebounds to help TWU side improve to 1-3 on the year. Third-year TWU guard Kianna Wiens (Regina) added 17 points. Fransson's previous best for points was 25, which she posted against Victoria last year (Nov. 23).

Alina Shakirova had a team-high 18 points for UNBC, while Madison Landry had 16 points for the Timberwolves, who fell to 1-3 on the year.

After an eight-point loss to the Timberwolves in Friday's home-opener, the Spartans came out flying in the first quarter, opening a 24-12 lead.

UNBC swung back in the second quarter, nearly outscoring TWU in the frame before a buzzer-beating jumper from first-year Spartan Rolande Taylor (Langley) gave the home side a 42-29 lead and an 18-17 edge in the quarter. Wiens had a team-high 16 points at the break for the Spartans, while Landry had 14 for UNBC. 

The third quarter was more of the same, with TWU expanding its lead to 19 points, 50-31, by the five-minute mark before going to the fourth quarter with a 56-35 edge. 

The Timberwolves outscored the Spartans 17-7 in the fourth quarter, but TWU's lead was never threatened with UNBC unable to get any closer than nine points. Shakirova had 10 points in the final frame to lead the visitors. 

TWU finished the night shooting 44.7 per cent (17-38) from the field, while UNBC shot 38.7 per cent (12-31). The Spartans had a 43-32 edge on the glass.

QUOTABLE
Cheryl Jean-Paul – TWU Head Coach
"After losing three tough battles, it's always nice to get a win the right way and that's what we did today. We started off great and had a really team-oriented first quarter, defensively and offensively. We made some adjustments from yesterday's game and I think they struggled with some of those adjustments. Our team took the critical feedback from yesterday to heart and I saw the adjustments that the individual players needed to make from our team and there was that desire to win the right way. We have to be able to play defence against good opponents to win this season. Today was a great example of how defence can find solutions for you even if the offence isn't working as well. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for this group. 

On the performance of Nicole Fransson
"For a second-year post, she is finding ways to make statements every time that she looks to score assertively. She knows that she still has things to work through, but I love that she's so eager to find ways to help her team win. I thought she had some great switches onto players who aren't easy to defend. For Nicole, it starts with how dominant she is on the glass and I'm excited to see what's next for her."

NOTABLE
•    The TWU win comes after losing back-to-back games against Thompson Rivers to the start the year and a loss to UNBC Friday. 
•    TWU lost all three of their games against the Timberwolves last season, two in the regular season and one in the playoffs.  
•    The Spartans dropped TWU's last two wins against UNBC came at home in the 2017-18 season (Nov. 3-4, 2017).

NEXT UP
The Spartans have a bye next weekend before returning to the court Nov. 22-23 with a weekend series in Calgary against the Dinos. UNBC returns home to host UBC Nov. 15-16.

About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 11 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) in men's hockey and as an independent team in men's rugby. The men's and women's hockey programs will begin playing in Canada West and U SPORTS in 2020-21. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 27 Canada West team championships and two BCIHL championships.

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