The Trinity Western Spartans turned up the defensive intensity, coming from behind to top the short-handed UNBC Timberwolves 65-58 in their Canada West women’s basketball season opener at the Northern Sport Centre.
Defense was the name of the game early on, as both teams found points tough to come by in the opening minutes. UNBC got it going, thanks to six points from Canada West All-Star Alina Shakirova, while the Spartans were led by gritty guard Hailey Roekel’s five.
The injury-plagued Timberwolves, who started the game with just nine players, led 17-12 after 10 minutes.
Trinity came out hungry in the second quarter, clamping down on Shakirova and pressing the UNBC backcourt that found itself down starting guards Sarah Kuklisin and Rebecca Landry. Nicole Fransson chipped into the deficit for TWU, while her T-wolves counterpart, Sveta Boykova earned a pair of buckets in the paint at the other end. A Jolene Vlieg triple cut the UNBC lead to a single point, but freshman Amrit Manak made back-to-back treys to answer for the T-wolves.
At the half, UNBC led 36-29, powered by Shakirova’s 11 and Manak’s eight off the bench, Boykova chipped in with six points and six boards. For TWU, it was Vlieg leading the way with nine points and four rebounds.
The physicality increased in the third quarter, with the officials electing to let a lot go in the paint. That suited the Spartans just fine, as Jayden Gill pushed the pace and earned herself a pair of fast-break buckets to reduce the deficit. Prince George product Jenna Korolek, making the first start of her career, answered with a steal and three to buoy the home team for the time being. Veteran Olivia Wilson settled UNBC down, playing the role of distributor on offense, and the Timberwolves clung to a four-point lead with three minutes left in the stanza.
However, the Spartans' relentless pressure led to turnover trouble for the T-wolves, and TWU clawed back to make it 49-49 with one quarter left.
Trinity poured it on early in the fourth with Roekel and Gill getting tough finishes in the paint, aiding the visitors to a six-point lead. For the rest of the quarter, every time the Timberwolves made a bucket, the Spartans answered. Fransson converted a putback after Wilson made a tough bucket. Vlieg made a jumper after Cevanna Carlson converted inside.
Eventually, the Timberwolves ran out of time.
Gill was the game’s high scorer with 18 points, while Roekel added 12 points and three boards. Shakirova paced UNBC with 15 points and seven boards, while Boykova added 14 points and eight rebounds. Korolek reached double figures with 10 points.
The two teams clash again on Saturday (4 p.m.) at the Northern Sport Centre.
