Led by their veterans, the UNBC Timberwolves staged a fourth-quarter comeback and beat the UBC Okanagan Heat 81-74 Saturday night at the Northern Sport Centre.
In the Canada West men's basketball game, the Timberwolves trailed 58-52 going into the fourth but outscored the Heat 29-16 in the final 10 minutes. Big plays as time was ticking down -- including a three-point shot by Francis Rowe, two clutch free throws by Sam Raphael and a steal and lay-up by Joel Rybachuk -- won the game for UNBC in the last two minutes.
Raphael, a fifth-year guard/forward, finished with 20 points. Rowe and Rybachuk, both fifth-year guards, ended the night with 16 and 10 points respectively.
The T-wolves improved their record to 4-2 and the Kelowna-based Heat dropped to 1-5.
In women's action, the Heat avenged an 18-point Friday loss to the Timberwolves with a 79-71 victory. The T-wolves had a tough time containing second-year guards Sarah Allison and Emily Kanester, who finished with 24 and 22 points. The two sophomores combined for five three-pointers in the contest.
Mercedes Van Koughnett, a fourth-year guard/forward, led UNBC with 17 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Jennifer Bruce scored 15 points for the home team and Jordyn Rabbitt added 14.
With the result, the Timberwolves slipped to 3-3 on the season and the Heat improved to 2-4.
The UNBC teams will be on the road this coming weekend. The T-wolves will tip off against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns on Friday and the University of Calgary Dinos on Saturday.
