Monarchs Hold Off Orcas Behind Jenkins' Spark: Montreal Grabs Crucial February Victory, 94-76
Jenkins Leads Balanced Attack as Monarchs Secure Home Win
MONTREAL – The Montreal Monarchs asserted their dominance on their home court Saturday, securing a vital 94-76 victory over the Vancouver Orcas in February 2026 season action. Behind a balanced offensive effort and tenacious defense, the Monarchs controlled the tempo for much of the contest, leveraging a decisive second-half surge to pull away from the Orcas.
The game began with both teams feeling each other out, trading baskets in a tightly contested first quarter. However, a string of key defensive plays and clutch shooting from Mia Jenkins and Zara Kozlova began to tilt the momentum in Montreal’s favor. Jenkins, who finished as the game’s leading scorer, ignited the offense with a timely field goal that seemed to energize her teammates heading into halftime.
“We knew this was a big one for us in the standings,” said Monarchs guard Mia Jenkins, who poured in 20 points. “The crowd was amazing, and we just fed off that energy. We executed our game plan, especially in the second half.”
The third quarter saw the Monarchs extend their lead thanks to sharp shooting from beyond the arc and strong inside play from center Ivan Popov, who grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. While the Orcas, led by Cleo Vargas and Lena Petrov’s 13 points each, fought back with impressive rebounding numbers, they struggled with their overall shooting percentage, connecting on just 27.9% from the field.
“Defensively, we were able to get stops when we needed them,” commented Monarchs Head Coach, Anya Sharma. “Our communication was much better tonight, and we limited their second-chance opportunities after the initial push. This is the kind of effort we need consistently.”
The Monarchs closed out the game with a solid fourth quarter, weathering a brief Orcas rally and preserving their comfortable lead to secure the win.
Key Notes:
- Mia Jenkins led all scorers with 20 points.
- Montreal capitalized on strong rebounding, outrebounding Vancouver 53-59.
- The Monarchs shot an efficient 92.3% from the free-throw line.
- Ivan Popov anchored the Monarchs’ defense with 10 rebounds.