The UNBC Timberwolves were 10 minutes away from going to the final round of the Canada West women’s basketball playoffs.
Unfortunately, the Regina Cougars pulled the rug out from under them.
A 21-9 fourth quarter surge propelled the Cougars to a hard-fought 77-66 victory on Saturday from Mount Royal University in Calgary.
POSTGAME: Hear from @UNBCWomensBball freshman Sarah Kuklisin after the TWolves fell in a gritty playoff matchup with the @ReginaCougars pic.twitter.com/ssc0UyE3AA
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) March 6, 2022
A lack of discipline proved to be the undoing of UNBC recording 10 personal fouls, six of which occurred in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter.
Regina needed its stars to step up and they delivered in a big way as Czech import Julia Vydrova notched 22 points and eight rebounds while running mate Jade Belmore secured the Tim Hortons double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds.
Sveta Boykova and Alina Shakirova each had 15 points each in defeat for UNBC.
Boykova’s presence in the pain led to the Timberwolves coming out like gangbusters in the third quarter notching 12 points in the frame, while UNBC outscored Regina 25-17, holding a 57-56 lead at quarter break.
Alina Shakirova gets tough buckets pic.twitter.com/K9mQ14ANfy
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) March 6, 2022
However, much like the fouls, shooting was another downfall as the T-Wolves went 20-for-60 on field goals as well as just a 4-for-19 sequence from three-point range.
Regina will take on the Alberta Pandas in the third round, Sunday afternoon in Calgary.
The T-Wolves lose just two players to graduation – Emma vanBruinessen and guard Lucy Guan.
EVB with the reverse!
We got a good one in Calgary!! pic.twitter.com/IKxGein23I— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) March 6, 2022
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