The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women's basketball team is doing something that many people didn't expect this season. That is playing in the Canada West playoffs.

The WolfPack defied the odds and have qualified for the post season for the first time since 2015-16.  This is despite losing their last six outings. This included a 69-52 set back at the hands of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns on Saturday night (Feb 8).

TRU led this game 38-26 at the half but were outscored 43-14 by Lethbridge in the final two quarters.
Thompson Rivers finishes the season at 7-13.  Lethbridge wound up at 11-9.

HIGHLIGHTS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIPUwJb5y3Y
 
SYNOPSIS:

The Pronghorns were led by captain Kacie Bosch who put on a show in her final regular season home game. Bosch flirted with a triple-double, scoring 23 points, while adding eight assists and seven rebounds. Katie Keith would add nine rebounds and 7 points, while Asnate Fomina chipped in 8 points. Both players are also graduating seniors.
 
Thompson Rivers was led by fourth year guard Jordan Wilkinson and rookie forward Jordan Robb. Both players scored 11 points.
 
The Pronghorns began the game seemingly motivated by the stakes, jumping out to a strong 6-2 run. A lethargic start for the WolfPack saw their offense stagnate, before a basket by Jordan Robb would spark the visitors' offense. A couple of baskets in transition would see TRU jump ahead 12-10. From there, the WolfPack would find their footing on the defensive end, using man defense to halt the momentum of the Pronghorn shooters. A 5-0 run would put the visitors up 17-10 before Kacie Bosch would provide an answer for the 'Horns with a strong drive to the hoop. A TRU three would be followed by a Pronghorn basket, which would send the teams into the second quarter with the WolfPack leading 20-14.
 
Emma Piggin would begin the second quarter with a WolfPack basket, only for Amy Mazutinec to answer for the 'Horns with a strong finish in the post. A 5-0 run by TRU would prompt Dave Waknuk to call a timeout, down 27-16.  Both teams would struggle in the next few minutes of play, with a Pronghorn three being the only points scored in a three minute span. The WolfPack would change these fortunes with three straight baskets, extending their lead to 33-19. Out of a Lethbridge timeout,  the 'Horns would turn over the ball, symbolic of their struggles in the quarter. With 90 seconds to play, the Pronghorns would turn up the heat with a 7-2 run, only for fourth year TRU guard Jordan Wilkinson to hit a buzzer-beating three. The WolfPack would take a 38-26 lead into the half.
 
Sloppy play would characterize the first few minutes of the third quarter. The WolfPack would be called on violations including travels, double-dribbles, and eight second violations. However, the Pronghorns would be unable to capitalize on their opportunities, until a Katie Keith lay-in after a WolfPack breakdown on defense would prompt a TRU timeout.
 
Trailing 43-32, a gutsy play in the post would earn Kacie Bosch an and-one, pulling the 'Horns within eight, 43-35. Leilani Carney would have an answer, hitting a heavily contested jump shot to put WolfPack back up by double digits. From there, the 'Horns would put on an incredible 9-1 run, thanks to Isabel Rattai and Kacie Bosch. A Rattai three would punctuate the stretch, sending the 'Horns into the final quarter down by two, 46-44.
 
A dominant fourth quarter, perhaps their best of the season, would see the Pronghorns outscore the WolfPack 25-6 for the victory.
 
The WolfPack return home and prepare for a one game 'play in series'. That will occur Friday, February 14^th when the Pack will travel to Abbotsford, BC to meet up with the University of Fraser Valley Cascades.  The two teams met in Kamloops last weekend, with the Cascades winning both times.
Friday's game will be webcast on a pay-per-view basis on Canada West TV presented by Co-op by accessing: https://cw.yaretv.com/.  
 
PLAYOFF SEEDING (FINAL RPI)

1. Calgary - 0.6572
2. Saskatchewan - 0.6190
3. UBC - 0.6189
4. Alberta - 0.6111
5. UFV - 0.5941
6. Winnipeg - 0.5310
7. Victoria - 0.5184
8. Lethbridge - 0.5151
9. UNBC - 0.4979
10. Regina - 0.4889
11. Manitoba - 0.4526
12. Thompson Rivers - 0.4068

PLAYOFF FORMAT
WEEK 1: Feb. 13-16 play-in games

• 1-4 byes
• 12 @ 5
• 11 @ 6
• 10 @ 7
• 9 @ 8

WEEK 2: Feb. 21-23 quarter-finals & semis

• Day 1 - quarter-finals
  • 5 vs. 4 (@1)
  • 8 vs 1 (@1)
  • 6 vs 3 (@2)
  • 7 vs 2 (@ 2)
• Day 2 - semifinals
  • SF 1 (@1)
  • SF 2 (@2)

WEEK 3: Feb. 29 CW Championship Game

• At highest remaining seed

(With Assistance from University of Lethbridge Sports Information and Canada West Sports Information)