KAMLOOPS – A solid fourth quarter wasn't enough for the Thompson Rivers WolfPack women's basketball team as the visiting University of Victoria Vikes took a 64-48 victory inside the TCC.
 
Megan Rouault led the 'Pack with 14 points on the night and four rebounds. Makeba Taylor pitched in with nine points, while rookie Jaya Saroya had the biggest game of her young Canada West career. The Kamloops local recorded eight points and four rebounds.
 
Kate Johnson had a game-high 15 points to go along with seven rebounds for the Vikes. Sierra Reisig had 11 points, while Abigail Becker had nine points and seven rebounds.
 
The game started slowly, with the WolfPack leading 6-4 just after the halfway mark in the first quarter. From there, the Vikes went on a nine-point run to put them ahead 13-6. The 'Pack had evenly disturbed offense as four different players got on the board.
 
Momentum swung in favor of the Vikes in the second. Through the strong play of Johnson, who sunk 10 points in the quarter, the Vikes managed to run out to a 43-24 advantage at the halftime break.
 
UVic came out of the break with energy, embarking upon a 12-point scoring run to start the quarter. Rouault hit a pair of threes and Saroya scored five points late in the frame to make the score 57-35 entering the final ten minutes of play.
 
The WolfPack played their best basketball of the night throughout the final frame. The 'Pack showed solid defense picking up eleven defensive rebounds while also holding the Vikes to just seven points. TRU shot over 41 per cent from the field as a team in the final quarter to outscore their opponents 13-7. The deficit was too large for the 'Pack to comeback from however, as the Vikes took the game 64-48.
 
Next up for TRU is a trip up North when they take on the UNBC Timberwolves in Prince George. The Vikes will journey back to the Interior next weekend when they face the UBCO Heat in Kelowna.