SASKATOON, Saskatchewan – With four players hitting double digits in scoring the Trinity Western Spartans rallied to advance to the Canada West quarterfinals with a 67-62 win over the Mount Royal Cougars in the play-in game Friday afternoon at the Physical Activity Complex in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
 
The Spartans led 30-26 at the half and trailed 43-39 after three quarters.
 
First-year guard Colet Van der Hoven (Maple Ridge, B.C.) with 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists, third-year guard Cassidy Buchanan (Aldergrove, B.C.) with a double-double of 14 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, fourth-year guard Shemaiah Abatayo (Vancouver, B.C.) with 13 points, five assists, and three rebounds, and Gracie Corneau (Abbotsford, B.C.) with 10 points, and nine rebounds all hit double digits to lead the Spartans. Nora Luca with 22 points, and five rebounds, Jenika Martens with 17 points and seven rebounds, and Jenessa Ramsoomair with 10 points, and nine rebounds led the Cougars.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now play in the Canada West quarter-final against the Saskatchewan Huskies in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Game time is 7 p.m. (CT) and can be seen live on Canada West TV.
 
QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Cheryl Jean-Paul
"So proud of the hard work this group has put into this effort all season long. We knew that being a playoff team was one thing and winning a game was another, and they demonstrated the resilience of a team that could win the game. Even though we struggled in the 3rd, we showed a lot of character in the 4th to make pushes on both offense and defense. The contributions of every player mattered today and we won as a team, that was really important for us. We know we are going to experience an extremely excited playoff fan base tomorrow, so I'm looking forward to helping our team learn about the standard a program like Sask sets when it comes to post-season play. We couldn't be in a better location to continue our growth and development."

After the game Abatayo reflected on the moment.
"It's kind of funny, coach Cheryl was telling us to hold the ball, but I was wide open and decided to shoot it! It's nice that my teammates trust me to push that ball, so credit to them on that one."
 
AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans and Cougars were evenly matched in the opening quarter with the two teams tied at 14-14 after the opening 10 minutes. TWU had a strong start to the second quarter and took a nine-point, 28-19, lead after a Cassidy Buchanan bucket with 3:40 remaining in the half. But after a timeout, the Cougars were able to go on a 7-0 run to cut the Spartans lead to two points, 28-26 with just under a minute remaining. Sydney Bradshaw made a transition layup with 26 seconds remaining to give TWU a four-point, 30-26 lead heading into the half-time break.
 
TWU extended their lead to six points 36-30 with 6:30 remaining in the quarter. But from there, the Cougars controlled the quarter. MRU outscored TWU 13-3 to take a four-point 43-39 heading into the final quarter. The Spartans came out strong to start the final quarter and a 16-2 run gave TWU a 55-45 lead with 5:20 remaining. Out of a timeout, the Cougars outscored the Spartans with a 6-2 run to cut the lead to six points, 57-51 with 3:15 remaining. Abatayo stopped the run with a three-pointer with 2:48 to extend the lead back to nine points, 60-51. Mount Royal rallied with a 9-3 run to cut the Spartans lead to three points, 63-60, with one minute remaining. A breakaway bucket by Van der Hoven and free throws from Buchannan got the Spartans' lead back to seven points, 67-60 with 35 seconds left. MRU made two free throws to make the final 67-62 for the Spartans.
  
NOTABLE 

• The Spartans finished the night shooting 39.7 percent (27-68) from the field, 35 percent (7-20) from the three-point line, and 66.7 percent (6-9) from the foul line. The Cougars shot 33.8 percent (23-68), 13 percent (3-23), and 61.9 percent (13-21) respectively.
• The Spartans had a 5in r0-40 edge in rebounding.
• MRU finished with 10 steals to TWU's six.
• The Spartans had 20 turnovers, while the Cougars had 15.
• TWU split with MRU earlier this season, November 8-9, in Calgary, Alta. The Spartans won 84-74 in overtime and lost 64-45.
• The Spartans are currently 12-3 lifetime against the Cougars.
• Last week the Spartans were swept by the Fraser Valley Cascades, losing 54-40, and 74-44 on the road in Abbotsford, B.C.
• Last week the Cougars swept the Manitoba Bisons, 76-57 and 90-78, in Winnipeg, Man.

About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country, and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 14 U SPORTS team championships and 34 Canada West team championships.
 
About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in U SPORTS. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
 
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