WBB: TWolves come back to top Pronghorns in 2OT thriller

Women's Basketball
February 14, 2020

Down fifteen points in the second half, the shorthanded University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves came all the way back, edging the Lethbridge Pronghorns 93-85 in a thrilling double-overtime battle, advancing in the Canada West playoffs.

Both teams came out firing in the first quarter, as Kacie Boscch scored a quick four points for the Horns, while Maria Mongomo answered for UNBC with a pair of three-pointers. Asnate Fomina took that personally, burying a trey of her own, before Lethbridge stretched their lead with three’s from Bosch and Jessica Haenni. The TWolves would battle back late in the quarter, and found themselves down 21-18 after ten minutes.


In the second frame, the Pronghorns found their stroke from long range, and went back to it over and over with great success. The shooting of Fomina, Haenni, and Amy Mazutinec helped Lethbridge build a 13-point lead midway through the quarter. At the other end, the shorthanded TWolves had troubles generating much offense, with Madison Landry providing much of the attack. At the half, the home team held a 43-30 lead.

In the third, the Pronghorns started to cool off from beyond the arc, as Sergey Shchepotkin’s team made the suitable adjustments on the defensive end. The pressure led to some buckets in transition as the lead was cut to six points late in the frame, with Rebecca Landry getting points on the fast break. Bosch had a great stretch late in the quarter, with three offensive rebounds, and Lethbridge found themselves up 58-51 with ten minutes to go.


Despite playing with just six players over the last four weekend, the TWolves were very much in the game with their season on the line. Bosch continued to assert herself getting a pair of tough layups to go, but UNBC again pushed back to make it a four-point game with five minutes remaining. UNBC actually took a late lead on a a vanBruinessen layup, but Bosch finish at the other end tied it. A scramble around the Horns hoop led to no fouls or points, so the fans in attendance were treated to more basketball.

In OT, Lethbridge looked to be the fresher side, creating three turnovers in the first minute, leading to easy baskets at the other end. Landry and Mongomo got buckets to go, to again make it a two-point game in the final minute of overtime. With game knotted at 78-78, Maria Mongomo went to the line with six seconds remaining but missed both free-throws, sending the game to a second overtime.


In double overtime, it was senior Emily Holmes who caught fire. The Prince George product wasn’t ready for her UNBC career to be over, burying two three-pointers and a pair of free throws to give the TWolves an advantage they wouldn’t relinquish. After fifty minutes of incredible basketball, UNBC had held on for the 93-85 victory.

The Timberwolves were led by Landry, who went for 30 points and five assists. Mongomo had 22 points, 10 rebounds, five steals, and four assists, while vanBruinessen had 14 points and 15 rebounds. Holmes finished with 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists.


For the Pronghorns, it was the guard combination of Fomina, Bosch, and Mazutinec who did the most damage. Bosch had 21 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists, while Mazutinec had 19 points and seven boards. Fomina added 18 points, and Katie Keith had six points to go along with 14 rebounds and eight helpers.

The loss meant the game was the final one in the tremendous Canada West careers of Bosch, Fomina, and Keith.


The TWolves now move on to the quarterfinals of the Canada West playoffs.