LANGLEY, B.C. – The Trinity Western Spartans women's basketball team will host the UNBC Timberwolves in a must-win playoff game Friday night (7 p.m.) at the Langley Events Centre.
WEEKEND PREVIEW
Friday, Feb. 8 vs. UNBC – 7 p.m. (PT)
THE WEEKEND STORY
• Friday's single-game elimination Canada West Play-In contest will see the winner go on to play one of Saskatchewan, Alberta, Calgary or Regina – who all have a bye this weekend – depending on the seeds of the remaining teams.
• The Spartans (12-8) enter the CW playoffs as the 8th seed and are coming off a two-game sweep of UFV last weekend (57-51 and 75-57).
• The Timberwolves (11-9) come in as the 9th seed, after splitting games last weekend against Lethbridge (L 77-71, W 79-76).
• UNBC comes to town with three of the top eight scorers in Canada West this season, with Maria Mongomo (19.9 points per game), Madison Landry (17.6) and Vasiliki Louka (17.3).
• Tessa Ratzlaff (Abbotsford, B.C.) led TWU in points this season, averaging 16.8 points per game.
• TWU last played UNBC earlier this year (Nov. 16-17) with the Spartans dropping both games on the road (78-77 and 83-54). However, TWU played both contests without Ratzlaff, who was sidelined with an injury at the time.
• This weekend's game marks the third straight year TWU has hosted a playoff game.
• Last year, TWU hosted Alberta in the Canada West Quarter-Finals, winning the best-of-three series in two games. The year before, in 2016-17, TWU beat Brandon in a best-of-three Canada West Play-In series which the Spartans needed three games to win. It was also the first time TWU had ever hosted a women's basketball playoff game.
TRINITY WESTERN SPARTANS (12-8)
U SPORTS ranking: NR
Canada West Standings: 8th
Last Weekend: @ UFV (W 57-51) vs. UFV (W 75-57)
Streak: 2 Wins
Regular Season Form: W-L-L-W-W
UNBC TIMBERWOLVES (11-9)
U SPORTS ranking: NR
Canada West Standings: 9th
Last Weekend: vs. Lethbridge (L 77-71) (W 79-76)
Streak: 1 Win
Regular Season Form: L-W-L-L-W
-TW-
