Written by Braden Konschuh / University of Regina
REGINA – UBC Okanagan advanced to the Canada West quarterfinals with an 86-70 victory over Brandon on Friday afternoon in a neutral-site play-in game hosted by the University of Regina.
 
The Heat's victory sets up a quarterfinal clash between UBC Okanagan and the No. 4-seeded Regina Cougars on Saturday night at the U of R's Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 PM.
 
Kanani Coon led the way for UBC Okanagan on Friday with 22 points including five three-pointers on just eight attempts. Sydney Lewis fell just short of a double-double for the Heat, collecting 18 points and 9 rebounds in 24 critical minutes off the bench.
 
Lily Pink and Kiana Kaczur also scored in double figures in the win for UBC Okanagan with 13 points and 11, respectively.
 
"We had a few nerves to start out but I thought we settled in nicely as the game went on," UBC Okanagan head coach Bobby Mitchell said. "We've built up some experience and I think the last few years of being here helped us out today for sure."
 
Piper Ingalls had a game-high 26 points for the Bobcats, who returned to the Canada West postseason for the first time since 2017. Macaya Copeland finished with 21 points for Brandon while Ella Averill scored 15, and Jayna Maytwayashing had a team-leading 9 rebounds.
 
It was still a two-possession game early in the third quarter, but UBC Okanagan took control of the contest with an 11-2 run punctuated by a Coon triple that put the No. 5-seeded Heat up 57-42. Another Coon triple started off a quick 7-0 run for UBC Okanagan in the fourth quarter which gave them their largest lead of the game at 71-50. Brandon eventually chipped the lead down to 10 with just under two minutes to go, but couldn't draw any closer as Kaczur responded immediately with a three and the Heat held the Bobcats without a field goal the rest of the way.