Eoin Colquhoun, Pronghorn Athletics 

LETHBRIDGE – Coming off a disappointing loss Friday night, the Lethbridge Pronghorns put an end to their three game losing streak and earned a weekend split with the Winnipeg Wesmen with a 76-63 victory. 

The win improves the Pronghorns to 5-3 on the season, while the Wesmen fall to 2-8 in Canada West play. 

Danielle Fritzke led the Pronghorns with 23 points on the strength of six three pointers while Katie Keith recorded her fourth double–double of the year with 20 points and 10 rebounds in the win. 

Faith Hezekiah continued her solid weekend and led all scorers on the night with 25 points and collected a double-double of her own with 10 rebounds. Robyn Boulanger was the only other Wesmen to hit for double digits with 12 points. 

The Pronghorns ability to control the offensive glass was a key factor in the Pronghorns win, snagging 18 offensive rebounds and winning the overall battle on the glass 40-33. 

After only scoring nine points in the opening quarter in last night's loss to the Wesmen, the Pronghorns were far more efficient at the offensive end in the opening quarter Saturday night scoring, hitting on 46.2% from the field and holding a 22-13 lead at the first break. 

The Pronghorns only hit on four of 16 first quarter shots last night, while the Wesmen had torched the Pronghorns for 27 points and never looked back.

Senior Danielle Fritzke led the Pronghorns attack in the opening quarter, hitting all three of her attempts from long range for nine points. Coming off a 30 point performance last night, Faith Hezekiah paced the Wesmen with eight first quarter points. 

The offensive pace slowed in parts of the second quarter but the Pronghorns were able to extend their lead to 11 at the half, outscoring Winnipeg 17-15 and holding a 39-28 lead through 20 minutes. 

Statistically, the difference in the opening half, was Lethbridge's ability to get on the offensive glass, picking up seven offensive rebounds, leading to 10 second chance points. 

Fritzke continued to shoot the ball well from behind the arc, hitting another three and leading the Pronghorns with 14 first half points. Hezekiah continued to cause the Pronghorns fits scoring half the Wesmen's second quarter points and leading all scorers at the break with 16 points. 

Out of the break, the Pronghorns continued solid work on the offensive glass, grabbing two early offensive rebounds and opening on a 9-4 run to extend the lead to 16 points early in the second half and the Pronghorns rode that early momentum to a 64-41 lead after three. 

In the fourth, they were happy to match the Wesmen possession for possession early in the quarter and the Pronghorns' lead was never threatened, running Winnipeg out of time, and cruising to the 13 point win. 

The Pronghorns will remain home Thursday night, hosting southern Alberta rival Calgary Dinos in the front half of a home-and-home series. The Wesmen will also face an interprovincial home-and-home series, traveling to Brandon for the Friday night match-up.

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Photo by: MPP Photography