LANGLEY, British Columbia– The Trinity Western Spartans came out strong against the No. 6 UBC Thunderbirds and put up one of their best opening quarters of the season to lead the T-Birds 29-18 after 10 minutes.  But it wasn't enough as UBC gradually cut into the TWU lead and took control on their way to handing the Spartans a 74-61 loss Saturday night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. The loss drops the Spartans to 8-8, while the win moves the Thunderbirds to 14-2.
 
TWU led 40-36 at the half, while UBC led 57-53 after three quarters.
 
Third-year guard Cassidy Buchanan (Aldergrove, B.C.) with 13 points, seven assists, and three rebounds, fourth-year guard Shemaiah Abatayo (Vancouver, B.C.) with 11 points and first-year guard Colette Van der Hoven (Maple Ridge. B.C.) with 10 points, six rebounds, and four steals led the Spartans. While Olivia Weekes with 20 points, and seven rebounds, and Keira Daly with 17 points, five rebounds, and two steals led the Thunderbirds.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now host the UNBC Timberwolves for their final home weekend of the conference play on February 7-8. Game times at the Langley Events Centre are set for 6 p.m. (PT) and 4 p.m. (PT) and can be seen live on Canada West TV.
 
QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Cheryl Jean-Paul
 
 
AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans exactly reversed the score of last night's opening quarter to lead the Thunderbirds 29-18 after 10 minutes of play. The Spartans shot 61.1 percent (11-18) from the field, while the Thunderbirds shot 46.2 percent (6-13). In the second quarter, the Thunderbirds' full-court pressure forced the Spartans into turnovers, eight, as UBC outscored TWU 18-11 to cut the Spartan lead to four points, 40-36, at the half-time break. In the half, TWU shot 45.7 percent (16-35), while UBC shot 38.7 (12-31).
 
The Spartans and Thunderbirds were even throughout much of the third quarter. But over the last three minutes, UBC was able to take control of the quarter to outscore TWU 21-13 on their way to claiming a four-point, 57-53 lead heading into the final 10 minutes. TWU shot 42.9 percent (3-7) in the quarter, while UBC shot 61.5 (8-13). UBC's defensive pressure continued to cause the Spartans problems in the final quarter. The Spartans shot 3-10 in the final quarter to the T-Birds 8-12, as UBC outscored TWU 17-8 over the final 10 minutes to earn the 13-point, 74-61 win.
 
NOTABLE 

• The Spartans finished the night shooting 42.3 percent (22-52) from the field, 17.6 percent (3-17) from the three-point line, and 70 percent (14-20) from the foul line. The Thunderbirds shot 50 percent (28-56), 27.3 percent (3-11), and 88.2 percent (15-17) respectively.
• The Thunderbirds had a 33-32 edge in rebounding.
• UBC finished with 16 steals to TWU's 12. The Spartans had 26 turnovers to the Thunderbirds 26.
• TWU lost to the UBC 79-61 Friday night.
• The Spartans are currently 7-57 lifetime against the Thunderbirds.
• Abatayo is also second in assists/game in a single season a 4.9 (68/14) this year. Trailing only Luca Schmidt's 2015-16 season at 5 per game (101/20).
• First-year guard Collette Van der Hoven now has 35 steals in CW conference play this season, which ties former Spartan Katie Howatson (Haworth) in 2005-06 for  TWU rookie season steals record.

 
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.
 
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 U 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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