Paul Cartledge - Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics

EDMONTON – Spicy hot from beyond the arc and playing anything but foul, fifth-year guard Shay Crisp led the University of Alberta Pandas to an important 63-51 victory over the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades, Friday night at Saville Community Sports Centre.

The former Victoria Vike recorded five three-balls, including a half-court buzzer-beater, and 17 points while senior guard Maddie Rogers served up a 15-point effort, including three treys of her own. Fourth-year forward Elle Hendershot fell just short of a double-double, netting 13 boards and eight points.

Team-leading scorer Kayli Sartori scored 17 points to lead the visitors on the scoreboard, the fifth-year guard/forward adding six boards while sophomore forward Taylor Claggett earned 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Pandas opened up the scoring with an 8-1 run, courtesy Crisp and and rookie guard Emma Kary contributing from long distance while the Cascades struggled, sending up four straight attempts from beyond the arc without finding the basket.

Although Fraser Valley regained some momentum from the charity stripe, Kary bucketed another trey with just under two minutes left, Crisp making it four for Alberta in the opening quarter when she sank a buzzer-beater just inside half-court to put the home team up 16-7.

Yet the home team went cold in the second quarter, not scoring from the field for almost six minutes and allowing the Cascades to pull within one.

Fortunately for the Pandas, Claggett missed her second free throw, sophomore guard Megan Tywoniuk capitalizing on the ensuing action with a jumper before teammate Crisp unloaded another three-ball and followed with her own jumper, helping Alberta to a 27-19 lead at halftime.

The long-distance triumphs spread throughout the team in the third quarter, Rogers and freshman guard Lauren Earl joining the three-ball success to stay ahead of a Fraser Valley squad that was shooting at 50% inside the paint.

Despite a second push by the Cascades to draw within one near the end of the third, the home team used their downtown connections to surge ahead, hitting a double-digit lead one last time with six and a half minutes left and keeping it there while Alberta recorded a total of 11 three-balls on the night.

The 13-2 Pandas and 8-5 Fraser Valley will conclude the weekend series on Saturday night, game time at 6 p.m. MT.