By Larry Read - TRU Athletics

Bos scores buzzer beater as WolfPack edge Heat

Jan 30, 2016 | 6:48 PM

KAMLOOPS —The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack find themselves back in first place in the Canada West Women’s Basketball Explorer Division.

The WolfPack got a basket from Michelle Bos (2ndyear, guard, Surrey, BC) in the final second of regulation time as they downed the University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat 71-70. The game was played on the Warner Rentals Court at the Tournament Capital Centre.

TRU moves to 11-3 on the year: good enough for a share of first place with the idle MacEwan University Griffins.  The loss drops the Heat into third place at 10-4.

“We didn’t shoot the ball extremely well but we expected the game to be a ‘grinder’,” said WolfPack assistant coach Chuck Ferguson as he caught his breath after the exciting finish. “They are a very good team. So are we. It was no accident that both teams were 10-3 going in. It is nice for us to be 11-3.”

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“It was a fun game,” Heat coach Clare Meadows said. “Every game between now and the end of the season have a lot of meaning for both teams. I think each and every game will be a competitive battle. If they all end that way they will be exciting.”

The WolfPack had a 10 point advantage at the half (37-27).  UBCO was sluggish to begin the third quarter but wound up outscoring TRU 23-15 to cut the lead to two (52-50).  In the final quarter, the Heat took a 70-69 lead before TRU called a time out.

Coming out of that time out, TRU moved the ball down court and fed the ball to Bos who drove to the basket for the winning point.  Bos was named the TRU Bookstore/McDonalds “Leader of the Pack” player of the game.  She wound up with nine points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes of court time.

Ferguson said it was a designed play: “ We were looking to put it into the high post and then have Michelle go to the low post and make the pass. We knew we had 4.6 seconds so we knew we had to do it quickly. Luckily, it worked out as it was drawn out.”

TRU had three players in double figures led by Taiysa Worsfold (5th year, guard, Kamloops, BC). She had 17 points.  Ferguson praised her for her leadership in the contest.

“She was huge today. Tay is what she is. I have been on a team with Taiysa for nine years. In high school she was a great leader and she is for us too. We needed her to be strong and she was.  Coach Reeves said in the dressing room after the game that the last play was about the players not the coaches. The players knew what they had to do and they did it.”

Kassie Colonna (4th year, forward, Invermere, BC) had a ‘double double’: 16 points and 17 rebounds (13 on the defensive glass).  Emma Piggin (2ndyear, guard, Kamloops, BC) contributed 14 points.

Meadows felt her team got off to a poor start shooting wise in the first half. “When we cleaned up our defense and our shots started to fall in the second half, we got right back into it.”

UBCO had four players in double figures led by Emily Kanester (4th year, guard, Vernon, BC) with 16. Kayla McFadden (4th year, forward, Pitt Meadows, BC) and Chloe Kennedy (4th year, forward, Summerland, BC) contributed 14 points while Clare Elliot (3rd year, guard, North Vancouver, BC) added 10 points.

Meadows praised McFadden. “I thought she had a great game. She did a lot of little things for us: strong on the boards, diving on the ground for loose balls.  She picked up a rebound at the end and got fouled. That put us on top with four seconds left.”

She added “Emily played only 13 minutes because she got into foul trouble. But in those 13 minutes she scored 16 points which was huge.”

Both coaches admit that a great rivalry is developing between the two close geographical rivals on the hardcourt.  “We are,” Ferguson stated. “I have a long history with the assistant coach. We have been friends for a lot of years. Clare is an outstanding coach and so is Scott. You are starting to see a friendly rivalry with respect between the two programs.

First place is a nice place to be for the WolfPack and Ferguson knows it. “This is sweet. It was sweet to win the division last year and we are gung-ho to defend it.  We have given ourselves a chance. Now it is about putting together some wins before the end.”

TRU continues their homestand as they entertain the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves next weekend (Feb 5-6) at the Tournament Capital Centre.  Tip off on Friday (Feb 5) is 6 pm.

The Heat will be at home next weekend to the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades.

The WolfPack and Heat will play their final two regular season games against each other on Febraury 19th and 20th. Both will be played on the Warner Rentals Court at the TCC.  Meadows says this contest sets up some great future match ups. “I am looking forward to it.  TRU is a well-coached team and always ready. Both teams will be ready. What a way to end.”

Meadows believes both teams are similar. “Both of us pride ourselves on defense along with the energy and intensity that that brings. The other team is just as competitive and physical. It makes for a  great battle.”