KELOWNA, B.C. â€" Two evenly matched Explorer Division foes once again put on an exciting show, this time in Kelowna Friday night as the Mount Royal Cougars women's basketball squad ultimately snatched a 81-71 victory off of the hometown UBC Okanagan Heat.

The Cougars' rookie Jayla Verney poured in a game-high 19 points. The Heat's Sarah Allison (Surrey, BC), and the Cougars' Angela Driscoll (Calgary, AB) each netted 16 points. Allison added two steals and two assists while Driscoll tallied six steals and five rebounds as well.

The first quarter was an up-tempo and electric affair between the two teams, who had by this point split the season with each other 1-1 in Calgary back in November. Heat Player of the Game Kayla McFadden (Pitt Meadows, BC) was off to a great start, and senior teammate Angela White (North Vancouver, BC) aided her in leading the charge to a 26-26 deadlock going into the second quarter.

By the half the Heat found themselves up only a single point as both teams continued to trade blows point for point. The bread and butter at this point was a feast from the charity stripe, from which the Heat were 19-25 compared to the Cougars' 8-12. The Heat were also outrebounding their opponents 24-18.

The Cougars really got going in the third quarter, where they managed to largely shut down Heat star Allison, while also watching as shot after shot for the Heat clanked off the rim and out, even while at the free throw line.

The turn of events offensively for the Heat carried on into the fourth. Despite a few runs that would bring them within four or under on a couple of occasions, the Cougars' rookie Jayla Verney (Halifax, NS) took over and scored five points in the final 40 seconds to close out the Heat for good.

The Heat wound up shooting a low 33.3% from the field, while allowing the Cougars to mount their way up to a 41.2% mark.

Mount Royal would also end up winning a crucial battle of the boards, collecting 53 balls off of the glass to the Heat's 39.

The Heat's Player of the Game Kayla McFadden put up a near double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds. The Cougars' Yasmene Saghir would nearly complete a similar feat, collecting a game-high 12 boards with eight points.

Four Cougars players hit double-digit scoring in Verney, Driscoll, Desiree Oakley (13) and Drew Knox (11). Three Heat players would also make the mark as second-year wing Shenelle Tamminen rounded out the Heat top scorers with 14.

UBC Okanagan remains at three wins with a 3-8 record, while Mount Royal improves to 4-7. Both teams will meet again for the fourth and final team this year Saturday at 5 p.m.

The Saturday matchup will be the UBC Okanagan Shoot for the Cure game. The CIS has raised over $761,309.12 ($633,303.89 to CBCF) since 2007.