LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Trinity Western Spartans set team records for points and made field goals, 37, as they defeated the visiting UBC Okanagan Heat 96-69 Saturday afternoon at the David E. Enarson Gym on the campus of Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C. The victory improves the Spartans to 12-2, while the loss drops the Heat to 6-9.
 
The Spartans had four players with double digit scoring. Nicole Fransson, who was three assists shy of a triple-double, had 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, Jayden Gill had a career best 19 points, while Jolene Vlieg had 12 points and Hailey Van Roekel had 11 points and seven rebounds.
 
While Jaeli Ibbetson with 12 points, Surprise Munie with 11 points and Alessia Brutto with 10 points led the Heat.
 
AS IT HAPPENED
Unlike Friday night, when TWU jumped out to an early 11 point lead, tonight's game started with UBC-O having control early. The Heat took an early 12-6 lead 3:20 minutes into the contest after a jumper from Rachel Hare. However, TWU responded and were able to take their first lead of the game, 13-12, on a Jolene Vlieg layup at 5:21. The Spartans continued their run and over the final five minutes the Spartans outscored the Heat 14-6, with Kianna Wiens hitting a three pointer at the buzzer to give TWU the nine point, 27-18 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
 
The Spartans maintained control of the game through the first five minutes of the second quarter as they extended their lead to, 14 points, 40-26, after a Fransson jumper in the lane. The Spartans continued to expand their lead over the final five minutes and had a 23 point, 54-31 lead at the half. TWU's Nicole Fransson led all players with 18 points, seven rebounds, and three assists at the half. TWU shot 57.1 percent 20/35, while UBC-O shot 39.4 percent 13/33.
 
Trinity Western expanded their lead in the third quarter, and like the second quarter the Spartans put an exclamation mark on it by hitting a three pointer at the buzzer, this time by Jenna Gill, to give TWU a 29 point, 76-47 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
With the large lead in the fourth the Spartans gave large minutes to the bench as they exchanged baskets down the stretch. With 37 seconds remaining TWU's Tegan McArthur hit a baseline three-pointer to give the Spartans the record for points in a game and made baskets.
 
NOTABLE

• TWU's previous record for points in a game was 93 points which they set in a 93-71 win against Manitoba on January 21, 2017.
• The previous record for made field goals was 36 which was done in back-to-back games against TRU in January of 2018.
• The Spartans record in CW conference play was when they finished 16-4 in 2017-18. TWU has had two seasons in which they finished with 12 wins, 12-8 in 2016-17 and 2018-19.
• The Spartans are 11-1 overall in conference games against the Heat. TWU is on a six game home winning streak against UBC-O.
• The Spartans finished the game shooting 48.7 percent 37/76, while the Heat shot 39.4 percent 26/66.
• TWU outrebounded UBC-O 48-34.
• There has only been seven triple-doubles in women's basketball since Canada West started recording them in 2000-01. Fransson was three assist shy of the Spartans first triple-double.

 
QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Cheryl Jean-Paul
"I talked yesterday about what the response was going to be in terms of being able to have back-to-back great games. And today was outstanding. It was a great team effort. We did the little things that we wanted to do. We moved well, we created for each other, and we crashed the boards. And we took away some of the looks that they got yesterday."
 
"So it's just really satisfying seeing the results of hard work and focus. Playing four weekends in a row against tough physical teams and at the end of all that to have this kind of game speaks to their resilience, to their work ethic and their desire to see their teammates do well. Really proud of this group and excited to see what happens over the next few weeks."
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will host the UNBC Timberwolves on Friday, February 4 and Saturday, February 5. Game times at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. are set for 6 p.m. and 5 p.m. respectively. Both games can be seen live on Canadawest.tv.
 
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 29 Canada West team championships.
 
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