WINNIPEG – For the second night in a row the University of Alberta Pandas came into the Duckworth Centre and showed why they are ranked in the top ten in the country. In an exciting game which came down to the last second, the Pandas won (78-77). The loss brings the Wesmen record to (2–2). Alberta with a pair of victories this weekend move up the Canada West standings with a (3–1) record.
A depleted bench for the Wesmen, took another hit Saturday night when rookie Chelsea Espenberg was sidelined with the flu. With her out of the roster, the Wesmen were down to 7 players.
The game began with the Wesmen going on a 7-0 run and It was not unit the 5:40 mark of the first quarter that Alberta scored their first basket. The Wesmen playing tough defensive pressured the Pandas in to make some bad shots decisions. The Panda did battle back to tie the game with Marinya Marcichiw tying the game (9 -9). However, Antoinette Miller once again held a hot hand for the Wesmen, scoring 16 points in the first quarter. At the quarter the Wesmen were up (22-13).
Pandas started the second quarter with three-pointers from Jenna Harpe and Lauren Earl. (24-19). Miller came down the floor with seconds on the shot clock and hit a three. (27-23). The Pandas turned up the defensive pressure, making the Wesmen miss some very makeable shots. Halfway thru the quarter, the score was (29-25) for the Wesmen. With 2:45 on the clock the Pandas tied the game at 29. With three freshmen on the floor for the Wesmen, the Pandas took the lead (31-29). The Wesmen did battle back with tough points from Miller and Hezekiah. At the end of the quarter, the Wesmen were up by 3 points, (34-31). Both Faith Hezekiah and Antoinette Miller played 19 mins. Only having a quick break during the first half to keep them fresh for the rest of the game, which they would need.
After the break, the Wesmen came out sluggish and the Pandas turned up the pressure. The Pandas pressured the Wesmen on every possession. Lauren Earl put up a three-pointer to give the Pandas the lead. The Pandas went on a 12–0 run. taking the lead (43 – 34). The Wesmen finally answer with a pair of buckets by Hezekiah. The game became a track meet in the 3rd, which played into the hands of the Pandas due to the limited roster of the Wesmen. Antoinette Miller drained a two-pointer and was fouled, making the free throw and cutting the Pandas lead to 5 with 2 mins left in the 3rd. The Pandas came down the floor and answer with their own three-point play. Miller once again running the lanes was free to drop a three-pointer to answer the Pandas. With seconds remaining the Pandas drained another three. At the end of three, the Pandas had taken a healthy lead. (59-47).
The fourth quarter showed the metal of Miller and the rest of the Wesmen. Digging deep they managed to battle the Pandas. The Wesmen managed to get the lead down to under 10 with 7 minutes left in the game. Robyn Boulanger score on a lay-up and a foul on the play made it a three-point play. (63-55). The Wesmen calling a timeout at 5:54, came flying out with Miller scoring three free throws. (63-58). Pandas Marinya Marcichiw scored two to extend the lead (65-58). Miller then scored two buckets to bring the lead (65-64). The Wesmen got the lead down to 1 (67-66) with 3:42 on the clock. After a Panda turned over the Wesmen took the lead by rookie Jessica Dyck. (69-67). Marcichiw of the Pandas tied the game at 69. A three in the key call gave the ball back to the Pandas. After a quick foul, the Panda made both giving them the lead. (71-69) with 2:28 on the clock. Emma Kery scored on a jumper (73-69). Miller with three-pointer brought the lead to down to (73-72). Alberta Lauren Earl made 1 for 2 at the free throw line to bring lead for Pandas (74–72). Wesmen call their final timeout.
With the ball, Paige Hastings Van is fouled and made 1 for 2 at the line. A quick turnover by the Pandas, the Wesmen down one point inbounded the ball, and on the drive by Faith Hezekiah was fouled. Making both shots from the line, the Wesmen took the lead. Pandas calling their timeout with less than a minute to play. Marcichiw of Alberta came down and scored for the Pandas putting them up one. Hezekiah on the drive to the basket is fouled and makes both (77-76) with 7.7 seconds on the clock. Advancing to front court with the timeout, Pandas took the ball to the hoop causing the Wesmen to foul. Elle Hendershot went to the line for the win. Hendershot makes both and the Pandas take the game (78-77)
Antoinette Miller scored a team-high 43 points in the game while playing 39 minutes in the game. Miller, a Canada West conference all-star and the conference's top defensive player a season ago. Has shown early in the Canada West season she will be the engine that drives the Wesmen.
Faith Hezekiah, the third year player, has also shown she is going to be a player who the Wesmen will rely on heavily. Playing 34 minutes in the game, Hezekiah scored 14 points and pulled down 12 rebounds.
The first-year player Robyn Boulanger netted 8 points while playing 17 minutes. Paige Hastings Van played all 40 minutes of the entire game.
Leading the way for the Pandas victory was Jenna Harpe who scoring 15 points all from the 3 point line. Emma Kary was second in scoring for the Pandas with 14 points. Followed closely by Elle Hendershot with 12 points and Marinya Marcichiw with 10 points.
The Wesmen travel next weekend to The University of Calgary to face the Dinos, while Alberta hits the road for the second weekend in a row to take on UBC Okanagan.