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Boykova, Landry power Timberwolves to victory over gritty WolfPack

Despite a tremendous fourth quarter push from the upstart TRU WolfPack, it was the UNBC Timberwolves’ veterans who had the final say. Sveta Boykova and Rebecca Landry combined to score 39 points, doing just enough to hold off the Pack and earn a 78-69 for the UNBC Timberwolves on Friday in Kamloops.
 
Early in the first quarter it was the Timberwolves coming out the hungrier team, led by six points from Sveta Boykova in the first four minutes of play, as UNBC built an eight-point advantage. A Priyanca Sundher triple cut into the deficit, followed by a three by Sydney Vollrath, as TRU looked to chip away at the TWolves lead. 
 
Late in the frame, Jocelyn Orr banked in not one, but two long three-pointers, pushing TRU to a single-point lead in the final minute as UNBC struggled to generate without Boykova on the floor. The Pack held a 21-19 advantage after ten minutes of play. 
 
The Timberwolves started the second quarter on a 9-4 run, as veteran swing Rebecca Landry scored seven early points on a variety of looks. The WolfPack assault from long-range continued, however as a Kelsey Cruz triple knotted the game at 28-28 and gave TRU their sixth three-pointer of the contest.
 
Back-to-back threes from Amrit Manak and Adaiah Tupas-Singh built the Timberwolves a moderate cushion as the clock trickled down in the half. After 20 minutes of play, UNBC held a 42-33 lead. Boykova led the way with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Landry had 11 points and Manak had nine. The Pack scoring was by committee, with Orr, Sundher, Vollrath, and Cruz all notching at least five in the half. 
 
TRU’s work from beyond the arc was strong, making good on seven triples, well above their usual clip of 4.5 three-pointers per game. UNBC made just three treys in the half. 
 
UNBC opened the second half on a run, as Sergey Shchepotkin’s starting lineup turned good defense into good offense. Repeatedly forcing the WolfPack into turnovers, the TWolves converted the ensuing offensive possessions into a 13-2 run. Todd Warnick’s team showed their mettle, however, digging in defensively and pushing for good looks on the offensive end. 
 
Olivia Randall would find her way to the free throw line on numerous occasions, displaying her toughness getting to the tough areas of the court and clawing into the UNBC lead. A late and-one from Sydney Vollrath and tough finish from Cruz kept the Thompson Rivers momentum going, but it was the TWolves holding a 65-46 lead.
 
TRU cut the deficit to 11 points on an 8-0 run, thanks to another Jocelyn Orr triple and a Danijela Kovacevic steal and score in the opening minutes of the fourth frame. The Pack continued to push the action, as Orr and Sundher made threes, cutting it to a five-point game on a 17-3 run with less than four minutes remaining. 
 
After the lead was cut to just one, the veteran combo of Landry and Boykova each got layups to go to re-establish an ounce of breathing room for the TWolves late in the quarter. Eventually, thanks to an 8-0 run to conclude the game, UNBC would hold on for a 78-69 victory over the young Pack.
 
Boykova would finish with a monster line, scoring 20 points to go along with 17 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Landry was also tremendous offensively, scoring 19 points and adding five rebounds, while Manak added 13 points for the TWolves.
 
Priyanca Sundher led the WolfPack with a career-high 15 points, while Orr also set a career-best with 13 points. Cruz was the other double-digit scorer for TRU, registering 12 points to go along with four rebounds and four assists. 
 
The win improves UNBC’s record to 3-12, while Thompson Rivers drops to 2-11 on the season. The two teams will play the second half of their weekend series on Saturday afternoon in Kamloops. 

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