VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The Trinity Western Spartans opened their 2023 pre-season with a 65-39 loss to the Mount Royal Cougars Friday night at War Memorial Gym in Vancouver, B.C.

The Spartans trailed 43-16 at the half.

Fourth-year guard Jayden Gill (Abbotsford, B.C.) with 15 points and Kailey Reimer with 11 points led the Spartans. While Marissa Richards with 13 points and Harriette Mackenzie with nine points led the Cougars.

QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Cheryl Jean-Paul
"Tough first U SPORTS game for us, but we have our gaps revealed and now need to understand what it takes to close the offensive and defensive lapses. We knew it would be a difficult transition losing Nicole Fransson as teams will defend us differently, but we had the shots and the looks, and now we just need to finish them. Most of our roster played entirely new roles from last season so it will take us a few games before we settle into the importance of the little things, finishing our defensive possessions and making the easy inside looks. New game and a different opponent tomorrow, so we will focus on improving one step at a time."

NOTABLE

• TWU shot 19.1 percent (13-68) from the field, 21.4 percent (6-28) from the three-point line, and 70 percent (7-10) from the foul line. While MRU shot 41.9 percent (26-62), 23.1 percent (3-13), and 76.9 percent (10-13).
• The Cougars had a 49-43 edge in rebounding.

UP NEXT
The Spartans will be back at UBC tomorrow morning to take on the Bishop's Gaiters. Game time at War Memorial Gym is set for 10 a.m. (PT).

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 14 U SPORTS team championships and 34 Canada West team championships.
 
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