Edmonton - The No.1 ranked University of Alberta Pandas rugby team closed out the 2013 Canada West rugby season with a convincing 42-3 victory over the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Sunday afternoon at Ellerslie Rugby Park in Edmonton.

With the win, Alberta finishes conference play atop the standings with a 4-0 record, and will now enter the Canada West championship tournament as the No.1 seed. Lethbridge, host of the conference championship from October 18-20, ends its regular season with a 1-2-1 record, and in third place in the standings. They'll join Alberta in the conference playoffs, along with Calgary Dinos and the 1-3 UBC Thunderbirds. Only the Canada West championship team will advance to the CIS tournament, Nov 1-3 at Laval in Quebec City.

The Pandas scored early and often on Sunday, and used their big half-time advantage to cruise to the victory. Canada West scoring leader Alanna Fittes scored a pair of tries on Sunday, and added one penalty goal to end her season with 63 total points in four games. Her points, eight tries and 10 successful converts led all major Canada West scoring stats. Jen Cousineau notched a pair of tries as well on Sunday, which gives her four on the season, while Chelsea Guthrie, a 2012 CIS First Team All-Canadian, also picked up her fourth of the season. Amee Svatos and Louise Chavarie also recorded tries for the Pandas.

Lethbridge, winners of six straight Canada West titles between 2006 and 2011, trailed the Pandas 34-0 at half-time, but got on the board when Tiffany Wideen was successful with a penalty goal kick late in the second half. The Pandas added a penalty goal of their own, right at the 80 minute mark, to close out the match at 42-3.

Both teams will now advance to the conference championship, October 18-20 in Lethbridge, where Alberta will open against the UBC Thunderbirds on Friday at 11:00, followed by a 1:00 pm clash between the Pronghorns and Dinos. The medal round will be on Sunday beginning with bronze at 11:00 am, followed by gold at 1:00 pm.