The UNBC Northern Timberwolves are B.C. champions and have booked a spot in nationals.
The Timberwolves women's basketball team beat the Vancouver Island University Mariners 62-53 in Saturday night's final game of the PACWEST Athletic Association championship tournament. With the win, UNBC grabbed the lone B.C. berth in the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association nationals, March 15-17 in Lethbridge.
In Saturday's game, played in North Vancouver, the T-wolves trailed 16-15 after the first quarter but dominated the second. In that quarter, the Timberwolves outscored the Mariners 20-6 and led 35-22 at the break.
The Timberwolves maintained their advantage in the third quarter and held off the Mariners in the fourth. VIU got to within eight points half way through the last quarter but Mercedes Van Koughnett then drained a long three-ball with just a half second left on the shot clock and UNBC had its cushion back.
Van Koughnett was picked as the tournament's most valuable player and teammate Jennifer Clyne was selected as an all-star. Van Koughnett finished the game with 20 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. Clyne knocked down 13 points, including three treys.
Later tonight, the UNBC men will take on the VIU men for B.C. gold.
