With just over nine minutes to play, the Trinity Western Spartans led the third-ranked UBC Thunderbirds by 16 points. But the host T-Birds outscored the Spartans 29-8 the rest of the way to win 66-61 in Canada West women’s basketball action.
Despite the loss — the second in three days to UBC after dropping a 76-64 decision — Spartans coach Cheryl Jean-Paul was impressed by her squad.
“This was probably some of the best basketball that the women’s team has ever played,” she said.
“We learned a very valuable lesson in what good teams need to be capable of doing for an entire game.
“UBC played a solid fourth quarter and demonstrated what top ranked teams have the ability to do.
“Great players make great plays and great teams fight to overcome great odds,” she said.
Tiffany Olsen with 14 points and Laurelle Weigl and Holly Strom with 13 points each led the Spartans. Weigl added a team high eight rebounds.
In the first game, Olsen led the way with 16 points while Emiyl Knauff had 13 and Sarah Cleveland 10 points.
The Spartans fell to 2-4.