Cougars split weekend set with Timberwolves in Prince George

Geordie Carragher, UNBC Timberwolves Sports Information

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. - The UNBC Timberwolves ended their home schedule on a positive note, defeating the Mount Royal Cougars 71-58 at the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre to earn a split of the weekend doubleheader.

Kylie Pozniak led the charge for the Timberwolves (3-15) with 20 points and four rebounds, while Vasiliki Louka earned a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Isabelle Bourque made a strong contribution off the bench with 14 points and seven rebounds for UNBC, including a 10-for-12 performance on free throws to lead the Timberwolves to an 87.9 per cent rate from the line.

Yasmene Saghir led Mount Royal (3-15) with 12 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, while Melissa Moore added 11 points, six rebounds, and four steals.

Cassidy Taal finished with 10 points off the bench for the Cougars, whose reserves outscored the Timberwolves 24-22.

After a slow start on both sides, the Cougars got hot midway through the first quarter, using a 9-0 run spanning 3:05 to pull ahead 13-5. The Timberwolves got the deficit back to two before a buzzer-beating three from Moore extended Mount Royal's lead to 16-11 through 10 minutes.

The Cougars extended their lead to nine before the Timberwolves mounted their comeback, with Louka keying a 17-2 run to go ahead 28-22. Mount Royal cut the deficit back to one, though the Timberwolves took a 36-33 lead into halftime.

Mount Royal battled back to take a 44-40 lead early in the third quarter, only for the Timberwolves to stay within striking distance and eventually take a 50-48 lead into the final frame.

The majority of the fourth quarter was a one-possession game, with the Cougars holding a 54-52 lead with 4:31 remaining in the game before Pozniak and Louka locked things down, combining for 12 of UNBC's final 19 points to seal the victory.

UNBC wraps up its regular season in Edmonton against the MacEwan Griffins next week, while Mount Royal will go home to wrap up its season against the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades.