BRANDON, Manitoba – The Trinity Western Spartans women's basketball team kept their playoff hopes alive with a come from behind 69-67 victory over the Brandon Bobcats Saturday at the Healthy Living Centre.
The Spartans trailed by as much as 12 points through the final five minutes of the game, but finished the game on an 18-4 run to win the game and improve to 5-13 on the season.
Nicole Fransson (Edmonton) recorded another double-double for TWU, recording 18 points and 15 rebounds while shooting 50% (9-18). She has recorded nine or more rebounds in six straight games.
Jayden Gill (Abbotsford, B.C.) had a career night for Trinity Western, recording season-highs in points (16), rebounds (5), and assists (2). Her layup with 1:27 left tied the game up, as she picked up six of the Spartans final nine points.
Brandon falls to 1-17 on the season with the loss.
TWU trailed 19-10 after the first 10 minutes, but outscored Brandon 20-14 to head into halftime down just three points at 33-30. Fransson paced TWU through the opening two quarters, picking up 10 points and eight rebounds.
The Spartans then saw their deficit grow in the third quarter, after the Bobcats outscored them 25-17 to head into the fourth up 11 points.
That led the late game heroics, as the Spartans 22-9 run in the fourth quarter fuelled the road victory.
QUOTABLE
Cheryl Jean-Paul – TWU Head Coach
"Tonight was a reversal of yesterday's game. Instead of battling to maintain a lead we had to fight to the last possession to take it back. Even though we left things to chance, our last few minutes showed a lot of composure and confidence in what we were capable of achieving as a group.
"These are character building games, finding out who is able to step up and how to deal with adversity and not waiting for someone else to make things happen. Great way to finish the away portion of the season and hopefully we can carry this momentum into next weekend."
NOTABLE
- TWU will now battle against Victoria next weekend in a must-win series in order to stay alive in the playoff race.
- The Spartans went 6-21 from 3-point range, while the Bobcats went 8 for 20.
- It was TWU's most points in a match since a home win over MacEwan on Nov. 30, 2019.
NEXT UP
TWU finishes its regular season at home next weekend, hosting Victoria Friday (6 p.m. PT) and Saturday (5 p.m. PT) at the Langley Events Centre.
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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