MADAGASCAR – The Trinity Western Spartans are headed to the final of the Madagascar tournament after a thrilling 56-49 overtime win over Madagascar's MB2All team. TWU will now play the Madagascar Military team (GNBA) in the championship match on Thursday afternoon. TWU had lost to MB2All, 50-44 in their opening game of round-robin play.
 
Fourth-year guard Jayden Gill (Abbotsford, B.C.) with 15 points, fourth-year guard Hailey Van Roekel (Langley, B.C.) with 12 points, and third-year guard Shemaiah Abatayo (Vancouver, B.C.) and third-year centre Gracie Corneau (Abbotsford, B.C.) with eight points each led the Spartans. Fourth-year guard Kailey Reimer (Abbotsford, B.C.) led the Spartans with eight rebounds in the win.
 
The Spartans had a much better performance in today's rematch. TWU led 13-11 after the first quarter and 24-17 at the half. But as the second half moved forward MB2All found their game and cut into the Spartans lead to trail by three points, 34-31, at the end of the third quarter. The home team took the lead midway through the final quarter, but TWU battled back to tie the game late. It looked like MB2All had the win in regulation, but, after an officials conference, their final three-point basket was disallowed as time had expired before the shot was taken.  TWU dominated the overtime period outscoring MB2All 11-4 to earn a 56-49 win and claim a spot in the final.
 
QUOTABLE
Head coach Cheryl Jean-Paul
"We looked much more like ourselves today. It was fun having a lot of the kid campers and coaches in the stands to cheer us on and our athletes spent a lot of time before the game signing jerseys and camp certificates. We cleaned up a lot of the areas we had struggled with last time, and that caused the other team to really lose their composure. Despite the extreme physicality at times, we had the lead for most of the game. Unfortunately, a few key lapses in the third quarter and early in the fourth allowed them to take the lead. It was exciting and a great lead-up into the final day of the tournament, so looking forward to a re-match against the military team."
 
SCHEDULE
Saturday, May 4 Madagascar MB2All, top club team from Tana, at Barea Stadium at 4 p.m.
Monday, May 6 Madagascar Military Team (GNBA) at Petit Palais Mahamasina at 2 p.m.
Tuesday, May 7 Madagascar AIA Team at Gymnase couvert Mahamasina at 8 a.m.
Wednesday, May 8 semi-finals vs MB2ALL at Gymnase couvert Mahamasina at 4 p.m.
Thursday, May 9 Madagascar Military Team (GNBA) at Gymnase couvert Mahamasina at 2 p.m. with award presentations to follow.
 
The Spartans will leave on May 1 and return to Langley, B.C. on May 12.
 
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 and women's and men's disc golf. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 14 U SPORTS team championships and 33 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 CIS 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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