The UNBC Timberwolves women’s basketball team surgically dissected the Brandon Bobcats from the inside out.
On Friday, the Timberwolves recorded 48 points inside the paint, enroute to a 78-67 victory at the Northern Sport Centre.
Emma vanBruinessen came up with her best outing in a Timberwolves jersey as she put up 23 points and 12 rebounds as UNBC improved to 6-9 on the season.
“Having a team that is able to put you in a scoring position where your most comfortable is definitely a benefit and that’s what happened.
“They are tall (Brandon) but they don’t have a lot of meat on their bones when you do the size comparison with other teams like UFV, we beat them up a little bit.”
POSTGAME: Hear from @its_emmav after her big double double in @UNBCWomensBball‘s 78-67 victory over the @BUBobcats! Rematch tomorrow on @CanadaWest TV at 5 PM! pic.twitter.com/nh3joeaxOg
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) January 25, 2020
At the half, @UNBCWomensBball leading @BUBobcats by 8, thanks to this buzzer beater from @its_emmav! EVB with 14 points & 8 boards to lead @UNBC, while @AdriannaProulx pacing BU with 10 & 7! Big second half coming up on @CanadaWest TV! pic.twitter.com/iLdIOqChBv
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) January 25, 2020
Not to be outdone, Maria Mongomo continued her sizzling play on the court, putting up her third consecutive 30-point game.
The fifth-year player from Spain also had 12 rebounds, six steals, and two assists.
Mongomo is the reigning Canada West women’s third-star of the week.
The lone bright spot for the Bobcats (1-14) was Adrianna Proulx who came away with a 22-point night in a losing effort.
Proulx told MyPGNow.com her team came out a little sluggish and paid dearly for it.
“We tried to prepare, but I don’t think we came out with enough energy or urgency down low.”
“That will be really important for tomorrow, so they aren’t getting in the paint and getting those points.”
POSTGAME: @AdriannaProulx talks after her 22 point, 9 rebound performance in @BUBobcats‘ 78-67 loss to @UNBCWomensBball in @CanadaWest play pic.twitter.com/FHEoMKSOwh
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) January 25, 2020
UNBC pulled out their third win in a row despite another short bench as Alina Shakirova, Cevanna Carlson, Julia Gallant, Svetlana Boyokova and Laura Garmendia Garcia didn’t play due to injury.
Q3: @landry_madi gets the long jumper to go, and your @UNBCWomensBball hold a 62-47 lead on the @BUBobcats! pic.twitter.com/NpuXhQgjYZ
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) January 25, 2020
The Timberwolves hold down the 12th and final playoff spot in the conference.
Both teams play again tonight (Saturday) at 5:00 from the NSC.
In men’s action, UNBC failed to cash in on its opportunities at crunch time dropping a 76-74 battle against the Bobcats.
The game was an uphill climb for the Timberwolves (4-11) who trailed by at least 10 points on two occasions and failed to capitalize on key shots deep in Brandon territory.
Chris Ross left it all on the court with a stellar two-way performance for UNBC recording 14 points and eight rebounds.
However, Ross was quite choked by the end result.
“We didn’t make enough plays, that’s what it came down to as we had our opportunities but couldn’t grab them.”
“We had some open looks and some three point shots, I honestly thought we competed really hard today but we came up short.”
After one quarter, @BUBobcats leading @UNBCBasketball 26-23. Good pushback by Dylon Matthews & the TWolves late in the frame. pic.twitter.com/0aiFqhUAEl
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) January 25, 2020
The Timberwolves still had a chance to win the game with less than two seconds left after Bobcats (2-13) guard Dominique Dennis missed both his free throws.
From there, Vova Pluzhnikov took the rebound and tried a half-court shot that fell wide of the target at the final buzzer.
Shun Williams potted 18 points for Brandon in the win, which included a 7-for-12 outing on field goals.
POSTGAME: Hear from @BUBobcats‘ Shun Williams, fresh off his 18 point, 5 assist performance in the Bobcats 76-74 win over @UNBCBasketball pic.twitter.com/1YtkSqyZ5f
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) January 25, 2020
The Bobcats were led by Anthony Tsegakele who scored 24 points, while Tyrell Laing led all UNBC players with 19.
The T-Wolves have dropped eight in a row but still hold on to the final playoff spot in the men’s division.
Tip-off for Saturday’s rematch is 7:00.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
