REGINA – Trinity Western's Nicole Fransson (Edmonton) had a double-double, including 21 points and 11 rebounds, to lead the Spartans to an 83-66 win over Victoria in the Canada West Play-In Game Friday at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport. With the win, TWU will play No. 4-ranked Regina Saturday in the quarter-finals at 7 p.m. (CT).
 
The Spartans Hailey Van Roekel (Langley) added 20 points, while Jayden Gill (Abbotsford, B.C.) put in 17 points to go with six assists to help lead an impressive Spartans effort.
 
The Vikes countered with Ashlyn Day collecting 28 points, while Abigail Becker had a double-double, with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
 
TWU shot 51.6 per cent from the field and 39.1 per cent from 3-point range. The Vikes shot 36.7 per cent from the field and 35.3 per cent from 3-point range. TWU a 42-35 edge in rebounds.
 
After opening an 11-point lead at halftime, the Spartans exploded in the third quarter, outscoring Victoria 27-12 to build an insurmountable lead that TWU took to the final buzzer. 
 
The Spartans will now look to advance to the Canada West Semifinals for the first time since 2018. 
 
The victory sees TWU push its winning streak over Victoria to seven games, with their last loss against the Vikes more than three years ago (Feb. 7, 2020).
 
AS IT HAPPENED
After a fast-paced and back-and-forth start to the contest, the Spartans started to edge ahead late in the opening frame, taking a 24-20 lead into the second quarter. 
 
TWU raced out on a 9-0 run to open the second quarter, pushing the Spartans ahead 33-20 after a 3-pointer from Gill. The Vikes closed the gap to six points, 36-30, but TWU responded in the late moments, extending the Spartans lead to 11 points, 43-32 at the break. Fransson was 7 for 7 from the field in the opening first half, while Gill for 6 for 7 as the duo combined for 28 of TWU's 43 points.
 
A 3-pointer from Gill midway through the third quarter gave TWU its biggest lead of the game to that point, at 53-36 and TWU kept momentum the rest of the way. The Spartans finished the third quarter ahead 70-44 and, from there, cruised to the finish line. 

QUOTABLE
Cheryl Jean-Paul – Head Coach
"We knew this was going to be a battle with the provincial rival – who we've played multiple times already, so staying focussed on all of the strides we've made in the last couple of weeks was key. We've had some good, close games, and seeing our players make a statement was great. We need to keep doing that moving forward.
 
"Hailey [Van Roekel] has been knocking down some big shots for us lately, but our other players doing what they do has given her that opportunity. Nicole Fransson doing her thing inside, Jayden [Gill] attacking off the dribble, our threes and fours rebounding – it's a true group effort. It's really special seeing the group celebrate each other as a collective.
 
"[Regina] is a tough team. Jade Bellmore is a very special player, and they play well as a team. I think it's going to be a great battle – hopefully we've learned a few things from today's game. We'll be ready to go."

NOTABLE
·       TWU hasn't played Regina in a regular season or playoff games since Nov. 3, 2018, when TWU completed a weekend sweep of the Cougars.
·       The last time the Spartans and Cougars met was in preseason action on Oct. 2, 2021, when the Spartans lost 77-68 in Regina.
·       TWU went 2-0 against the Vikes in the regular season, winning 73-70 and 80-74 in Victoria.
·       Last year, the Spartans beat MacEwan in the Canada West Second Round (77-71) before falling to Lethbridge in the CW quarter-finals (76-67).
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will take on Regina in the Canada West Quarter-Finals Saturday at 7 p.m. (CT) at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport.
 
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 13 U SPORTS team championships and 32 Canada West team championships.
 
About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in CIS sports. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.  
 
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