PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Trinity Western defeated the UNBC Timberwolves in a wild 81-75 game at the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre on Saturday.
Hailey Van Roekel (Langley, B.C.) led the way with 20 points for the Spartans (15-3), who capped off their best regular season in program history (.833 win percentage) with the victory over the Timberwolves (7-8).
Van Roekel's night was not only high in volume, but even efficiency, going 7-10 from the field with 3-4 coming from 3-point range. The third-year guard was accompanied by yet another double-double achieved by
Nicole Fransson (Edmonton), 13 points from
Kianna Wiens (Regina), and 12 points off the bench from
Kailey Reimer (Abbotsford, B.C.).
AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans took a commanding 25-16 lead in the first quarter, riding a seven-point stretch from
Hailey Van Roekel to take the lead.
The second quarter belonged to the Timberwolves as they outscored the Spartans 26-19. With the pace picking up in the game, a 44-42 Spartans lead heading into the halftime break would set up for an entertaining second half.
As expected, a wild, fast-paced second half was the case on Saturday. With the Spartans controlling the lead for the majority of the quarter, each team wasted no time in going at the opposing defence. With a total of 36 points scored in the quarter, the third wrapped up at a 62-60 advantage for the Spartans.
The fourth, and final quarter saw the Spartans get up to an 11-point lead with five minutes remaining. With the game in their control, a late surge from the Timberwolves wasn't enough, capping off the match at an 81-75 finish.
NOTABLE
- Nicole Fransson earned her 14th double-double of the 2021-22 regular season in Saturday's victory. Fransson averaged 11.1 rebounds-per-game to earn TWU's all-time single-season rebounding record through 18 games played. The third-year post broke her own record of 10.1 rebounds-per-game set in the 2019-20 season (10.1 RPG).
- Van Roekel's 20-point performance marks a career-high for the third-year guard in the scoring department. Reimer's 12 points also stands as a career-high.
- Kailey Reimer scored 12 points in 11 minutes played.
QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Cheryl Jean-Paul
"It has been a challenge playing against the same teams, it is hard trying to win against the same opponents after playing them that many times. So as much as we're not playing Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Winnipeg, you're still playing a team that has gotten to know you quite well. We still had to find new ways to beat our opponents while they got to know our flaws. Our team has prioritized growth and development to get to where we are now, knocking down open shots. What has been really incredible about this group is how different people stepped up for us at different times.
"This was a great way to finish the season on a high note. We've worked really hard on staying in the moment, being focussed, and learning what pressure feels like knowing that everyone has a target on their back now. We've done the best that we can, even though we don't know where we'll land in the playoffs.
"It was a great win, it's great finishing on a win for our Kianna and Ose [Obetoh] (Maple Ridge, B.C.)."
TWU Guard Kianna Wiens
"Today was an all-around team effort. We went into this game picturing ourselves getting ready for playoffs, knowing that in two weeks it is do-or-die in an important game for us. They [UNBC] play really good team basketball, they were finding their shooters really well and knocking down shots, so that made it difficult for us. They kept going to what was working for them and it was really difficult to stop, so we had to make some adjustments.
"I haven't really processed [graduating] yet, we still have playoffs, it hit me after the game but it's kind of crazy. It has gone by in the blink of an eye, it feels like yesterday that I was a first year coming off the bench, just trying to do what I could. Reflecting back on the journey has been great."
TWU Guard
Hailey Van Roekel
"I took the shots that my coach [
Cheryl Jean-Paul] wanted me to take. My teammates were finding me as well, so I really appreciate them for that. Cheryl makes sure we're in really good shape, so when we see their [UNBC] shoulders slumping we're ready to run and take this game from them. I think we take the right shots. We talk about it all the time in practice so we know how to find the right shot for our teammates.
"I used to play in the Pac-West, so we used to play teams three times as well, so I'm used to it, but it is such a dogfight, Especially when it's one game with us needing the tiebreaker. It is good to end the season well and put some pressure on UFV. If they can catch us, good for them, if they can't, we'll take first."
UP NEXT
The Spartans will be gearing up for the Canada West playoffs.
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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