LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Bobcats women's basketball team recorded another first in program history Saturday night. In beating the Trinity Western Spartans, the win marks the first time the Bobcats beat Trinity Western in the Spartans' home gym.

The Trinity Western Spartans rally fell five points short as the Brandon Bobcats defeated TWU 74-69 Saturday night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C. The Spartans rallied from a 24 point third quarter deficit to close within three points, before dropping the contest. The loss drops the Spartans to 4-10, while the win moves the Bobcats to 6-8.
 
Guard Jessie Brown with 18 points and forward Tessa Ratzlaff with 13 points, nine rebounds and three steals led the Spartans, while Keisha Cox with 24 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and five steals led the way for the Bobcats.
 
The difference in the contest came down to shooting as the Spartans struggled from the field shooting 33.3 percent, 22-66, while the Bobcats finished at 49.1 percent, 26-53.
 
The Spartans had a slow start to the game as the Bobcats jumped out to a 14-3 five minutes into the first quarter. TWU gradually gained ground as the quarter progressed to trail 23-11 at the end of the first 10 minutes.
 
Trinity Western had a much better start to the second quarter as they outscored Brandon 8-2 in the first three minutes, to cut the deficit to six points, 25-19. The Bobcats responded and built their lead back to double digits with an 11-6 run to lead 36-25 with three minutes remaining in the quarter. Brandon regrouped to end the first half with a 11 point lead, 45-34.
 
The third quarter was a battle between the two teams control the game. Brandon was explosive to start the second half. They extended their lead to 24 points, 60-36, five minutes into the quarter. TWU scrambled back with a 13-0 run to cut the Brandon lead to 11 points, 60-49. The Bobcats would finish the fast paced third quarter with a 14 point, 65-51, lead.
 
The Spartans continued to apply pressure to the Bobcats throughout the fourth quarter. TWU used a 8-0 run, back-to-back three's by Brown and Luca Schmidt, followed by two free throws from Kristen Ford, in the first three minutes to cut the Brandon lead to four points 66-62. Both teams struggled to find the bottom of the basket over the next six minutes. With Brandon leading by six points, with 10 seconds remaining Brown hit a three to make it a one possession game. The Spartans fouled, but the Bobcats Keisha Cox hit both foul shots to seal the five point, 74-69 win.
 
The Spartans will now travel to Edmonton to face the University of Alberta Pandas on Feb. 5 and Feb. 6.
 
Game Notes: Brandon had a 43-32 edge in rebounds…TWU finished with 23 turnovers, while Brandon finished with 28…the Bobcats were 50 percent, 7-14, from the three point line, while the Spartans were 35 percent, 7-20… TWU's Kristen Ford tied her season high with seven rebounds…