Cary Mellon, Heat Athletics

KELOWNA, B.C. - Just six first quarter points put the UBC Okanagan women's basketball team in to a deep hole as the potent Lethbridge Pronghorns topple the Heat 75-53 on Friday night at the UBC Okanagan gymnasium.

The Heat trailed for all but one minute of the match. The first quarter offensive woes started to abate in the second quarter, unfortunately the Pronghorns also were firing on all cylinders stretching the lead to 21 at the half. 

Lethbridge carried that lead throughout the rest of the game matching every comeback attempt by UBCO with an offensive rebound and another possession. 

The 'Horns outrebounded UBCO 56 to 39 which included 22 rebounds on the offensive glass for the visitors. Katie Keith led Lethbridge with 11 rebounds, she completed her binary double-double with 11 points. It was Amy Mazutinec with a game high 20 points on the night, she also hauled in seven rebounds. 

Heat captain, and fifth year point guard Vanessa Botteselle grinded out a gutsy 16 points for UBC Okanagan, penetrating the Horn's defense by getting to the line eight times. Jordan Korol was two rebounds shy of a double double with 15 points and eight rebounds. 

First year post Mackenzie Horst added eight points and seven rebounds in the game. 

Head coach Bobby Mitchell noted that the cold shooting start was tough to comeback from:

"We had some good looks but couldn't finish and we left five or six points at the free-throw line early on and at this level it's hard to get points" 

What's next: 

These two teams will meet again in Kelowna tomorrow night as the Heat look to earn their first win on the season, they currently are 0-5, the tip-off is set for 5 p.m. PST. Lethbridge remains unbeaten, at 3-0 on the Canada West season.