The UNBC Timberwolves limped to the finish line to conclude its 2024-25 Canada West basketball season.
During senior weekend, the T-Wolves were able to muster up flashes of the future against the UBC Thunderbirds but were swept in both men’s and women’s action from Brownridge Court at the Northern Sports Centre.
On the women’s side, UNBC fell 79-36 (Friday) and 79-53 (Saturday) to the high-powered Thunderbirds who finished the regular season with a mark of 18-2.
The Timberwolves suffered an offensive power-outage during Friday’s defeat going 12-for-52 shooting (23.1%) while also committing 38 turnovers.
If that wasn’t enough, UBC dominated UNBC in the trenches outscoring them 42-10 in the bench. The Thunderbirds also showcased their depth where all players were on the court for at least 12 minutes.
First-year guard Kiera Daly racked up a game-high 27 points including a 5-for-7 showing from three-point range. Crafty veteran Mona Berlitz also reached the 20-point club, while also tallying 10 rebounds.
Viiktoria Filatova led all UNBC players with 11 points.
Saturday’s matchup was a little bit more aesthetically pleasing as Timberwolves veteran post player Sveta Boykova notched 23 points and 14 rebounds in her final Canada West game.
But much like 24 hours earlier, UBC’s deep talent pool proved too much shooting 60% on its 2-point shots. Three Thunderbirds reached double-digit points including Berlitz (11), Olivia Weekes (13) and Keira Daly (13).
Thirty-two of UBC’s points came of UNBC turnovers.
Boykova, along with Bella Mesquita, Sarah Kuklisin and Adaiah Tupas-Singh were all recognized during post-game ceremony at centre court.
UNBC finished the season with a mark of 4-16.
In men’s action, the Timberwolves kept it close for a while in both games against UBC until levy broke consecutive nights.
After being up 34-33 at halftime, the Thunderbirds flipped the switch and outscored UNBC 49-21 in the second half.
Victor Radocaj hooped a game-high 15 points for UBC while former T-Wolf Fareed Shittu tallied 12 points and eight rebounds.
Micha Jessie, who also spent one-year with the Timberwolves put up eight points in 18 minutes of work. UBC dominated the paint outscoring UNBC 54-22 in that category.
Every Thunderbird player that dressed on Friday registered at least two points.
Josh Gillespie finished with 14 points in a losing effort for the Timberwolves.
The season finale saw more of the same from the visitors from Vancouver. Radocaj (19), Shittu (18), Adam Olsen (18) and Brendan Sullivan (15) all reached double-digit points.
UBC connected on a whopping 72.3% of their 2-point field goals.
Isaiah Bias tallied 17 points for the Timberwolves who finished with a 1-19 record, who had eight first-year players on the roster coupled with major injuries to key veterans like Justin Sunga and Will Keyes.
Milan Pasquale chipped in with a 14-point performance. Evegni Baukin didn’t dress for UNBC due to illness. UBC ends the campaign with a record of 15-5, second in the Pacific Division, trailing the undefeated Victoria Vikes.
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