You couldn't have asked for a better script to be written Friday night (Nov 1) for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women's basketball team.  With a new coach, a number or rookies and the return of a veteran guard---there were lots of subplots to their Canada West and home opener against the Trinity Western University Spartans.

That veteran—guard Emma Piggin (5^th year, Kamloops, BC)  sank a basket with 23.8 seconds left to help the Pack beat the Spartans 70-67 before an excited crowd at the Tournament Capital Centre.

Piggin was playing her first Canada West game in over a year.  She  wound up with 18 points and seven rebounds as she was named "The Den" Leader of the Pack player of the game.

The victory spoilt a brilliant individual effort by Trinity's Nicole Fransson (2^nd year, forward, Edmonton, AB).  She had 24 points and 17 rebounds---20 of those points and 10 of those rebounds coming in the first half.

TRU had three players in double figures. Jordin Wilkinson (4^th year, guard, North Battleford, SK) had 15 points while Jordon Haggardy (3^rd year, guard, Saskatoon, SK) had 11.

Kienna Wiens (3^rd year, guard, Regina, SK) had 16 points while Jolen Vlieg (2^nd year, guard, Leduc, AB) added 12..  The win was also the first for new TRU head coach Goran Nogic in U SPORTS play.

SYNOPSIS:
Thompson Rivers came out of the gate with gusto. Piggin  leading the way with seven points and three rebounds in the opening stanza as the Pack led by six at one point and held a 23-17 advantage after the first period.  Fransson  had three points but 10 rebounds for the Spartans.

The Spartans came out strong in the second quarter cutting the deficit to five going on an 11-3 run to open it. With five and a half minutes left in the quarter, Fransson, the Canada West all-rookie team member from last year hit a wide open shot to take their first lead of the game

The WolfPack ran into foul trouble in the second quarter as both key players Piggin and Jordin Wilkinson (North Battleford, SK) wound up on the bench with three fouls a piece. Trinity led by five 41-32 going into the dressing room. Despite turning over the ball 14 times compared to the WolfPack's three.

In the third quarter, he WolfPack chipped at the Spartans lead at the same time as silencing Fransson.  The Trinity star had only two points in the quarter as the Pack cut the deficit to one (50-49). The Pack had a chance to take the lead with five second left by rookie Jordan Robb (guard, Kelowna, BC)'s three pointer missed the mark.  Piggin had five points in that period to give her 12 on the night at that point.

In the fourth, Piggin's second effort gave TRU an early lead (51-50)—their first since the first quarter. The score seesawed and with 5:30 left, Trinity Western's Vlieg  drained a three pointer to lead 60-57.  The Pack called a time out and inserted Emily Ferguson (2^nd year, guard, Kamloops, BC) who drained a deuce followed by a Megan Rouault (3^rd year, guard, Vernon, BC) three pointer to give TRU a 2 point lead (62-60). 

With 23.1 seconds left,  Piggin got the ball in traffic and was able to get the ball up while off balance for a 68-67 lead.  With time running out, Trinity Western picked up two fouls to get the Pack into 'bonus'  Haggarty  was sent to the line and made her foul shots to ice the victory.
 
 
 
 
HIGHLIGHTS:
https://youtu.be/XqJR0YkobL8
 
THEY SAID IT!
WolfPack head coach Goran Nogic (1^st year):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1190501958026575872 
 
Spartans head coach Cheryl Jean-Paul (10^th year):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1190501894512242688  

WolfPack guard Emma Piggin (5^th year, guard, Kamloops, BC):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1190501555553746945  
 
 
UP NEXT:
The  two teams will battle again on Saturday (Nov 2) at the Tournament Capital Centre . Tip off will be 5 pm PST.  If you can't make it live, you can watch it on a pay-per-view basis on Canada West TV presented by Co-op.  you can access it by op by accessing: https://cw.yaretv.com/.  

James Matthews will be handling the play by play with former WolfPack player Vince Watson providing commentary and CFJC TV's Dylana Milobar joining them as the in-game host.

Results will be available on the WolfPack social media platforms and their website  www.goWolfPack.ca.
 
OF NOTE:  . The Kamloops Rube Band were on hand to make the home and season opener even more entertaining. They were at the TCC last weekend for the volleyball home opener against the University o Calgary Dinos.  This is one of only two home weekends for the WolfPack basketball teams before Christmas.  The other comes in late November when the UNBC Timberwolves come to town for a pair of games.