BRANDON – The Brandon Bobcats picked up a huge home 71-63 win Friday night over the UBC Thunderbirds, moving the 'Cats one game up on the T-Birds in the Canada West standings, and one game closer to clinching the team's first post-season berth since the early 1990's.
 
Entering this weekend's action, the two teams were tied for sixth place in the Canada West Pioneer division along with Winnipeg. The Bobcats' win is the seventh on the season, which is the most for the program in a season since joining Canada West in 1999.
 
Both teams knew there was a lot riding on this game, and both teams played that way, but some timely shots and stopping the T-Birds' late momentum proved to be the difference maker for Brandon.
 
The two teams were evenly matched in terms of pace and energy in the first frame, but the Bobcats shot 53 per cent from the floor to the T-Birds 30 per cent.
 
The Bobcats started the second quarter on a 7-0 run, at which time the T-Birds called a time-out.  Brandon responded out of the time-out with a defensive stop, followed by a clutch three from Kylee Howard. The 'Cats continued that torrid pace, shooting at a 43 per cent rate from the floor in the first half.
 
UBC started the third quarter strong, jumping to a 7-2 run early, and fighting back in the fourth to a five-point deficit with three minutes left in the game. Brandon would prevail however, picking up the win and moving to 7-10 on the season. The loss drops UBC to 6-11.
 
"I thought we played with a lot of intensity defensively and that sense of urgency that we need to play with at this point," says Bobcats Coach Novell Thomas. "We're battling with them for a playoff spot, so I'm very happy with our performance in the first half, in terms of how we took care of the ball. In the second half unfortunately we got a little bit careless, but we were able to make some key offensive plays when we needed to."
 
The Bobcats were paced by Keisha Cox's team-high 22 points. Kylee Howard and Kaela Cranston each hit three 3-pointers for nine points, while Alyssa Montgomery had eight points and nine rebounds. Fifth-year guard Aleah Bridges quietly had a good game as well, registering five points, nine boards and six assists.
 
UBC was led by Kara Spotton's game-high 24 points. Spotton also pulled down 10 rebounds, while Diana Lee finished with 15 points and rookie Jessica Hanson had 11 points.
 
The two teams play again Saturday night in Brandon with a lot on the line.  A win for Brandon brings the Bobcats one step closer to clinching a playoff spot. Saturday's game will also be the final home games for fifth-year Bobcats Aleah Bridges and Kaela Cranston.