Lethbridge – After a tough weekend on the road, losing both games to a pair of Pacific Division schools, the Lethbridge Pronghorn women’s basketball team (5-7 CW) returns home to host another pair of Pacific Division schools who are at the opposite end of the Pacific Division standings.
 
Friday night, the ‘Horns host the Trinity Western Spartans who are at the bottom of the standings with a 2-10 record. Saturday night, the ‘Horns will take on the number one team in the country and Pacific Division leading Fraser Valley Cascades (11-1).
 
Both tip-offs are set for 6:00pm at the 1^st Choice Savings Centre and the games will also be webcast on www.canadawest.tv , home for all Canada West webcasts.
 
Just past the halfway mark of the season, the ‘Horns are in a battle for a playoff spot and currently trail the Saskatchewan Huskies by one game for the fourth and final spot in the Prairie Division. The ‘Horns enter the weekend on a three game losing streak, dating back to the final weekend of the first half, where the ‘Horns lost the UBC Thunderbirds in Vancouver a night after beating the Victoria Vikes.
 
Offensively, the ‘Horns remain ranked 12^th in the conference, averaging 59.2 points be game and are led by Ali Cameron. Cameron sits seventh in the conference in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per game. After the two losses last weekend, defensively the ‘Horns dropped from ninth to 12^th in Canada West and are allowing 66.8 points against.
 
The Spartans sit last in the Pacific Division, but after starting the season with seven consecutive losses, they won two of their final four games before the semester break. Last weekend, the Spartans lost both games at home versus the Alberta Pandas and Saskatchewan Huskies. While the Spartans are ranked 14^th offensively, they sport the eighth ranked defense in Canada West allowing 64.3 points.  Holly Strom and Sarah Cleveland are the only two Spartans that average double digits in points, scoring 17 and 11 points per game respectively.
 
Saturday night, the ‘Horns face the other end of the spectrum in the Fraser Valley Cascades. For the second week in a row, the Cascades were the top ranked team in the CIS and have been ranked in the top three in the country every week this season. The Cascades suffered their only loss of the season in their last game before the semester break, falling 59-55 to the second ranked Regina Cougars. Last weekend, the Cascades won both games at home over the Pandas and Huskies. Only allowing 53.2 points per game, the Cascades sport the top ranked defense in the conference , but also hold the fifth best offense in Canada West. With four players averaging double digits in points, the Cascades rely on a balanced attack and are the top three point shooting team, hitting on 34.9% of their attempts.
 
Saturday night also marks the ‘Horns “Shoot for the Cure” game in support of Breast Cancer research. In addition to wearing pink jersey’s the ‘Horns will be involved in a variety of activities, including head coach Erin McAleenan participating in a contest at half time of the men’s game. The ‘Horns will also auction off one of special edition pink ‘Horns jerseys, with all proceeds of the events going to Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.


-30-