Good things come in sixes.
That's the storyline that came true for the UNBC Timberwolves women's basketball team last night (Feb. 2) in a 76-71 win on the road in Regina against the Cougars, which also clinched the programs fourth straight Canada West playoff appearance.
After sitting 3-9 before the past six games, they've now won six in a row to get to 9-9 and have a chance to make that record 11-9 with two wins in the final regular season games next weekend (Feb. 8-9) in Prince George.
The women had only six players available last night.
Maria Mongomo, Emily Holmes, Madison Landry, Rebecca Landry, Issy Bourque and Emma vanBruinessen due to a string of UNBC injuries, which meant all six logging heavy minutes over the weekend.
VICTORY!!! With just six players, @UNBCWomensBball guts out a 76-71 comeback win over the @ReginaCougars! Mongomo with 27 points, 15 rebounds, 4 steals! Six wins in a row!! pic.twitter.com/mVhsEMQ9XZ
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) February 2, 2020
UNBC came out sluggish after taking three minutes to score an opening bucket.
vanBruinessen picked things up for the Lady T-Wolves to take a 13-11 lead after the first quarter.
UNBC fought hard to hang on in the second quarter with just one sub available to them all night.
Mongomo shined in the second, scoring 12 and adding eight rebounds to head into the locker room at the half with a 33-25 advantage.
In the third, Regina closed the gap with Mongomo fighting to keep UNBC in it, holding on to a one-point lead going into the final 10 minutes.
The Cougars appeared to have had more energy in the fourth and carried that through most of the frame.
With UNBC down with three minutes to go, Mongomo and Landry stepped up huge and helped secure the 76-71 road win.
"We had a slow start in the second half and things started getting desperate," UNBC's Issy Bourque said postgame.
"With five minutes left in the fourth, something shifted. All of us switched into game mode, forgot our pain and exhaustion, and got it done. The energy just blew up and it was great to be a part of."
Altogether, Mongomo played 36 minutes, vanBruinessen logged 38, Landry played 37 minutes while Holmes played the entire 40.
A HUGE steal from @landry_madi leads to a massive bucket and a late lead for @UNBCWomensBball!! pic.twitter.com/47RKcRZWKD
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) February 2, 2020
“Some players are only getting breathers in timeouts, and playing the entire game," Bourque added. "Staying healthy is huge for us, because we need to be ready for playoffs."
Mongomo led the way for the Timberwolves on the scoresheet recording 27 points, 15 rebounds and four steals.
vanBruinessen added 13 points and 17 rebounds, Landry would put up 15 points and eight assists while Holmes scored 12 and added four assists.
With the win, UNBC officially clinched a playoff spot; matches and schedules will be announced at a later date.
