The Furnace was hot on Saturday night.
The final regular-season game of the UBC Okanagan Heat's women's basketball team was an essence, an exhibition, as both the Heat and their opponent, the University of Victoria Vikes, had already clinched berths in the Canada West playoffs.
However, the night was an ode to honouring three seniors, Kelsey Falk, Abby Smith and Lauren Foullong, and the team was looking to snap a three-game losing streak which included a tough OT loss the night before to the Vikes, 76-70.
Snap they did, as Okanagan blew the doors off of the gym in a program-record 42-point third quarter en route to an emphatic 97-68 victory.
Pacing the way for the Heat was Falk. The Vernon local has spent six years repping the blue and white, and she saved her best game for last, accumulating 14 points, 10 steals, seven rebounds and five assists as the Heat.
The 10 steals was a program record for most in a game, and eighth overall in Canada West history. She also set a new all-time career team record for most field goals made and is the new leader in most rebounds, with 767.
The 97-point game was also a program record for most in a game, beating the previous margin of 94.
Rookie guard Tsuki Tsuzuki led the way for the Heat with 22 points, to go along with four steals.
Lily Pink added 21, while Tennyson McCarthy and Aiko Williams also finished in double figures (11 and 10).
The Heat (7-13) finished fifth in the Pacific Conference and will play the 13-6 Regina Cougars in round one of the postseason next weekend at the University of British Columbia. The winner would then face off against the Thunderbirds (16-2) in the semifinals.
