Box Score
Edmonton - A strong defensive game paved by the No.6 Alberta Pandas earned them their second consecutive win, a 72-50 win over the Lethbridge Pronghorns, Friday night at the Saville Community Sport Centre.

Placing third in Canada West scoring, Alberta’s leading scorer Nicole Clarke tallied a game-high 19 points to lead the offence while third-year guard Sarah Binns put up 14 points and the entire team combined for 29 defensive rebounds, sophomore forward Saskia Van Ginhoven posting six of them.

Fifth-year guard Lauren Taal had a baker’s dozen on the scoreboard for the Pronghorns in a losing effort and third-year guard Katlyn Olsen also broke the double-digit barrier, notching 10.

The two provincial rivals went offensive in the first quarter, as both squads shot over 50% in the opening 10 minutes, with Clarke topping everyone with nine points and 100% success, draining a trey and three jump shots.

In the second quarter, however, the Pandas poured on the defense, stifling the Pronghorns at every turn through blocking or grabbing rebounds, steering Lethbridge to a 2-13 shooting clip while Alberta closed out the half with a 10-point run in the final three-and-a-half minutes to take a 36-28 lead into the locker room.

An 8-0 Pandas run early in the second half pushed the Alberta lead into the double digits and the Pronghorns had no answer to the stalwart defense, Van Ginhoven posting four boards in the third quarter to help her team outscore the visitors 18-9.

The Edmonton native and Binns then both added three points from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter, the Port Moody, BC native draining the game’s final point to end the proceedings.

The 8-3 Pandas and 2-9 Pronghorns face off in the second game of their two-game series tomorrow (Saturday) at the Saville Community Sport Centre in Edmonton. Tip-off goes at 6 PM MT.