As the final seconds ticked down at the Northern Sport Centre Saturday, the crowd roared.
On the court, there were hugs, and there was laughter as four teammates came off the floor together.
It was the final home game for UNBC's four graduating players from the women's basketball team - Emily Kaehn, Chelsey Thorne, Jen Bruce and Mercedes Van Koughnett.
They were recognized during a special ceremony after the T-wolves 88-51 loss to the visiting University of Fraser Valley Cascades.
They all stepped on the court together five years ago as rookies in the 2009-10 season.
"It was a pretty sweet game," Van Koughnett said afterwards. "We were looking forward to playing it and playing in front of our home fans."
Van Koughnett, who will graduate with her psychology degree this spring, is a Prince George product who played high school ball at Duchess Park secondary.
Even with two games remaining in the regular season, she has had quite the season. She leads the T-wolves in scoring with 17.6 points per game. She is ranked fifth in CIS Canada West scoring, averaging 17.6 points per game as well as rebounding with 8.4 rebounds per game. She leads CIS Canada West in assists (5.5 per game) and is fourth in steals (3.2 per game).
"She has scored more than 1,200 points at UNBC," said UNBC athletics director Loralyn Murdoch during the recognition ceremony. "Her work ethic and dedication is outstanding. She will be difficult to replace."
Thorne is a Kelly Road high school product who graduated from UNBC in 2011 with a social work degree after playing two seasons with the Timberwolves. She came back this year and enrolled in classes to finish her eligibility and play her final year at UNBC.
"Chelsey is one of the hardest working players in the program," Murdoch told the crowd. "She lives and breathes basketball and what she does in the program can't be measured by stats. I'm so glad she came back."
Kaehn grew up in Hixon and went to high school at PGSS. She'll graduate with her integrated science degree this spring. The stats for the five-foot-nine forward are impressive.
She's second behind Van Koughnett in team scoring this year, averaging 12.4 points per game. That puts her 16th in CIS Canada West.
She's tied for 11th in rebounding (7.1 rebounds per game) in CIS Canada West; sixth in field goal percentage (.524); and fourth in offensive rebounds (3.2).
"She's done an amazing job in her CIS career," Murdoch told the crowd. "She's an excellent role model in the community and at UNBC."
Bruce was back in the lineup on the weekend after suffering a concussion during practice Jan. 3.
The Langley product will graduate with her business degree this year.
"She has scored more than 800 points to sit in eighth place in the history of UNBC basketball," Murdoch said. "She was part of the last B.C. banner as part of the PAC [Pacific Athletic Conference]."
"It was hard being away but I'm feeling pretty good," Bruce said. "The memories are that we all got our degrees and we got to play a sport we love."
"It's hard to think we came in five years ago," added Van Koughnett. "Winning provincials [2012] is definitely a memory and we got to play in the CIS and finish fifth."
The Timberwolves wrap up their regular season this weekend in Calgary when they visit the Mount Royal University Cougars.
