Jeremy Laurie (UBC Athletics)

VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds women's basketball team (0-1) fell to the visiting Alberta Pandas (1-0) 72-67 in the Canada West season opener for both squads.
 
While the lead changed hands throughout the game, the Pandas used an 18-0 second-half run to earn the victory.
 
Despite a late-game push and double-digit efforts from Kara Spotton(Fort Collins, Colo.), Jessica Hanson (Vancouver) and Adrienne Parkin (Vancouver), with 17, 16 and 10 points respectively, the 'Birds were unable to open the season with a W.           
 
Four Pandas hit double digits in scoring, led by Jessilyn Fairbanks, who scored 15 points, followed by Megan Wickstrom with 14 and Maddie Rogers and Elle Hendershot with 10 each.
 
UBC head coach Deb Huband noted that her team struggled defensively in the fourth quarter, giving Alberta an opportunity to strike.
 
"I think our defense just broke down on us. We played really strong defense for three quarters, then we opened the door a bit…it was a bad time to lose momentum."                
 
The 18-0 Alberta run began in the last half minute of the third quarter, with a Rogers layup. It overturned a 55-49 UBC advantage, and by the end of the surge, the Pandas were ahead 67-55, with the last points coming once again on a bucket by Rogers with just over five minutes to go in the game. The run also included three-point baskets from Wickstrom (2) and Fairbanks.
 
UBC called a timeout at 5:32 to regroup. After the Rogers basket to finish off the 18-0 run, a pair of free throws from Spotton, a bucket from Andrea Strujic (Vancouver) and a three-pointer from Diana Lee (North Vancouver) helped cut Alberta's lead to 67-62 with only 2:34 remaining.
 
After the teams exchanged successful jump shots, UBC's Hanson nailed a clutch three-pointer, closing the lead to 71-67 with just 0:32 left.
 
Lee intercepted a sloppy Pandas pass and hurried down the court in the dying seconds, but was denied by Alberta defenders.
 
UBC took a 10-point lead midway through the second quarter thanks to a 12-2 run. Guard Cherub Lum (Vancouver) nailed a long-range shot to break a 23-23 tie. After a Pandas basket, Spotton and Parkin added layups for UBC beforeShilpa Khanna (Surrey, B.C.) nailed a jump shot. Krysten Lindquist (Markham, Ont.) finished off the run with a triple to put the home side up 35-25.
 
Huband acknowledged that, even without the victory, her team showed improvements over their pre-season performances.
 
"I think it was a step forward in regards to team play…fewer self-imposed errors and offensive rebounding was really strong," said the head coach. "We'll come back and battle tomorrow…and make it a four-quarter performance."
 
UBC shot 37.5 per cent (27-of-72) from the field while Alberta made 28 of its 52 attempts (53.8 per cent).
 
The Thunderbirds won't have to wait long for their chance at redemption. UBC will face Alberta once again Saturday, Nov. 7 at War Memorial Gym. The game commences at 6 p.m. PT

IMAGE CREDIT: Rich Lam/UBC Thunderbirds