Eoin Colquhoun, Pronghorn Athletics
LETHBRIDGE – With a dominating third quarter run, the Lethbridge Pronghorn women's basketball team broke open a two possession game and opened its 2018-19 Canada West season in style with a 78-54 win over the MacEwan Griffins.
After having a bye last weekend during the conference opening weekend, the Pronghorns were led by a balanced attack with four starters scoring in double digits. Katie Keith led the way with 12 points, while Amy Mazutinec, Danielle Fritzke each had 11 points. Kacie Bosch also had 11 points in the opening half before leaving the game due to injury.
The loss drops the Griffins record to 0-3 after opening the season with two losses to crosstown rivals Alberta Pandas last weekend. Kayla Ivicak was the lone Griffin to hit for double digits in points and led the way with a game high 14 points and completed the double-double, grabbing 12 rebounds. Mackenzie Farmer chipped in the nine points.
"I felt like that was a good starting point for our team, with room for growth and improvement," said interim head coach Dave Waknuk. "I thought we changed the tempo in the second half with our defensive effort."
"Our goal is to maintain that consistency for an entire game but I am proud with how the team played tonight."
Through the opening 10 minutes, the Pronghorns, aided by 10 MacEwan turnovers, held a 17-12 lead. In the first quarter the Griffins turned over the 10 times and the Pronghorns were efficient at the offensive end of the floor, hitting 8 of 15 shots from the field.
While the Griffins hit only five shots from the floor in the first quarter, two from long range were able to keep within striking distance.
Following a relatively slow scoring pace for much of the first quarter, both teams found their offensive rhythm in the second half but through 20 minutes, the Pronghorns still held a five point lead after both teams hit for 22 points in the second.
At the half, the Pronghorns remained efficient from the field, hitting 6 of 11 in the second quarter, to finish the half 54.5%, while the Griffins hit on 38.7% from the floor in the half.
An 16-4 run to start the second half, the Pronghorn blew open a close game taking a 17 point lead with just under four minutes to play in the third quarter.
In the quarter the Pronghorns held the Griffins to only 10 points and went into the final quarter holding a 13 point lead at 57-44.
The Pronghorns strong play continued into the fourth closing out the game, holding MacEwan to another 10 point quarter and pushing the lead over 20 points in the final minutes of the game.
On the night, the Pronghorns finished with an efficient 46.9% shooting and edged the Griffins on the glass, 35-32. The Griffins downfall on the night was their inability to take care of the ball, coughing up the ball 31 times, leading to 23 Pronghorn points.
The Pronghorns and Griffins will hit the floor again tomorrow night to complete the weekend set, tip-off is slated for 5:00 p.m. Catch all the action on www.canadawest.tv.
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Photo by: MPP Photography