With just over nine minutes to play, the Trinity Western Spartans led the third-ranked UBC Thunderbirds by 16 points. But the host T-Birds outscored the Spartans 29-8 the rest of the way to win 66-61 in Canada West women鈥檚 basketball action.

Despite the loss 鈥� the second in three days to UBC after dropping a 76-64 decision  鈥� Spartans coach Cheryl Jean-Paul was impressed by her squad.

鈥淭his was probably some of the best basketball that the women鈥檚 team has ever played,鈥� she said.

鈥淲e learned a very valuable lesson in what good teams need to be capable of doing for an entire game.

鈥淯BC played a solid fourth quarter and demonstrated what top ranked teams have the ability to do.

鈥淕reat players make great plays and great teams fight to overcome great odds,鈥� she said.

Tiffany Olsen with 14 points and Laurelle Weigl and Holly Strom with 13 points each led the Spartans. Weigl added a team high eight rebounds.

In the first game, Olsen led the way with 16 points while Emiyl Knauff had 13 and Sarah Cleveland 10 points.

The Spartans fell to 2-4.