LANGLEY, British Columbia – Trinity Western collected an all-time high 55 rebounds, as the Spartans earned a 70-65 win over Manitoba in women's basketball on Friday, January 20 at the Langley Events Centre.

Natalie Carkner and Tessa Ratzlaff each had 11 boards, while Kayla Gordon added six to lead a dominant Spartans performance on the glass that saw TWU out-rebound the Bisons 55-37. 

The Spartans (8-5) held as much as a 17-lead midway through the final frame before holding off a hard-charging Bisons side for a five-point win. While Manitoba (1-12) had a better shooting percentage from the field – 37.3 to 36.1 per cent – the Spartans efforts on the boards and a six-point edge from the free throw line proved to be the difference.

TWU's previous record on the glass was 53, which the Spartans had posted three times.

The Spartans were led offensively by Jessie Brown, who had 28 points, while Ratzlaff finished with a double-double, putting up 14 points to go with her 11 rebounds. Gordon added 19 points to her six boards. Carkner's rebound total marked a career high, bettering her previous best of seven (Nov. 26, 2015 against Saskatchewan).

Nicole Konieczny paced the Bisons with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Brittanie Parisen and Taylor Randall put up 11 points each. Rebecca Potter had a team-high nine boards.

Brown had 15-point opening quarter to lead the Spartans to a 25-13 lead through 10 minutes. Ratzlaff added eight points and four rebounds. The Bisons had five players make one basket apiece.

The Bisons closed the gap in the second quarter, outscoring the Spartans 18-13, and trailed by just seven points, 38-31, at the break. Similar to the first quarter, Manitoba attacked with a balance offence that saw seven different players hit the scoresheet by halftime. Manitoba also held Ratzlaff and Gordon to 31.8 per cent from the field in the opening 20 minutes. The Spartans duo entered the game both in the top five in the conference in shooting percentage.

While the Spartan shot just 27.8 per cent in the third quarter, the home side pushed its lead to 10 points, 58-48, thanks to nine of 10 shooting from the free throw line. Brown collected eight points in the quarter to lead TWU, while Konieczny and Randall had five points each for Manitoba.

TWU went ahead by 14 points, 69-55, with just over five minutes to play in the fourth quarter, but the Bisons closed the gap to five points, 70-65, with 1:32 remaining. However, neither team found the basket the rest of the way, with the Spartans holding on for their fourth win in their last five outings.

The teams meet in the rematch Saturday, Jan. 21 at 5 p.m. (PT) at the LEC.