The WolfPack women’s basketball team fought hard but fell to the powerhouse UBC Thunderbirds in an 88-48 defeat at home on Nov. 8. Despite the final score, the women displayed determination and grit against the number 4-ranked team in the nation.
Danijela Kovacevic and rookie Allison Hansen led the scoring for TRU, each netting nine points. Hansen’s performance marked a new career-high for the Alberta-born first year.
The Thunderbirds were consistent in their scoring. Keira Daly led UBC with 18 points, while Olivia Weekes added 17. The Thunderbirds’ impressive 53% shooting percentage underscored their offensive dominance and highlighted the challenge for the young WolfPack team.
‘Pack started the game strong, with second-year guard Olivia Randall putting a three-pointer on the scoreboard for the team. Kovacevic drove to the basket to give the WolfPack a brief 5-3 lead. However, the Thunderbirds responded swiftly, igniting a 16-2 run midway through the first quarter, which included five points from Taya Billings. By the end of the quarter, UBC led 22-9.
The second quarter saw UBC extend their lead to 27 points. Yet, the WolfPack responded in the final minutes before halftime, with Hansen finding her rhythm and both Randall and ‘Pack guard Sydney Vollrath connecting on three-point shots. This scoring boost gave TRU a solid 10 points in the closing minutes of the half, cutting into UBC’s lead. However, the Thunderbirds retained a 48-24 advantage as the teams headed into the break.
Despite UBC’s third-quarter push, TRU rallied in the fourth. Kovacevic and Jocelyn Orr led a spirited effort, keeping the scoring margin close in the final frame before UBC pulled away again to seal the game with a 40-point win.