Eoin Colquhoun, Pronghorn Athletics
Lethbridge – A night after squeaking out a one point victory to open the Canada West season, the Lethbridge Pronghorns could not recreate the magic from a night ago and were handed a 67-39 loss by the MacEwan Griffins.
Poor shooting and turnovers were the 'Horns undoing on this night, as they finished the night with a frigid 26% from the floor and turned the ball over 25 times. The Griffins on the other hand shot the ball just shy of 39% and took full advantage of the extra possessions, scoring 22 points off of the 'Horns turnovers.
The Griffins had nine players score on this night but were led by Kayla Ivicak's game high 13 points. Paige Knull chipped in with 12 points and former Pronghorn rugby player Juhee Thompson had nine points for the Griffins.
Katie Keith led the 'Horns with nine points, while Zoe Dahl and Katie Hankins each had seven points in the loss.
After losing by only a single point in their season opener, the Griffins started game two with energy and pressure, forcing the 'Horns in to turnovers and disrupting their rhythm. The Griffins turned nine Pronghorn turnovers into 10 first quarter points and after 10 minutes the Griffins held a 20-9 lead.
The 'Horns only hit four of 12 shots in the quarter for a 33.3 shooting percentage, while the Griffins were more efficient at offensive end, hitting nine of 20 from the floor (45%).
Much of the same continued in the second quarter, turnovers plagued the 'Horns again and the Griffins extended their lead to 39-19 at the half. The 'Horns committed another six turnovers in the second. The Griffins shooting percentage dropped in the second, finishing the half shooting just over 30% but the turnovers gave the Griffins 16 extra possessions and 16 points off Pronghorn turnovers in the half.
The 'Horns continued to struggle shooting, finishing the half at cool 26%.
Any thought of a Pronghorn comeback was snuffed out early in the third quarter with the Griffins hitting their first two shots out of the half, extending the lead to 43-19 and in low scoring third quarter, 12-7 in the Griffins favor, MacEwan had a 25 point lead with one quarter to play.
While the 'Horns had their most productive quarter in the fourth with 13 points, they were unable to close the gap and dropped to 1-1 on the season with the loss.
Up next for the Pronghorns will be a home-and-home series with the Mount Royal Cougars, starting in Calgary Thursday night. The back half of the home-and-home series will go Saturday night at the 1st Choice Savings Centre in Lethbridge. The Griffins will return home to host USports top ranked Regina Cougars.