Box Score EDMONTON - The No.4 University of Alberta Pandas basketball team got an important victory, Friday night at Saville Community Sports Centre, defeating the Lethbridge Pronghorns by an 86-48 score. In doing so, they moved to 15-4 and clinched at least third place in the Pioneer division standings.
The Pandas were led offensively by senior forward Saskia Van Ginhoven, who had a double-double with 26 points (11 in the first quarter) and 11 rebounds, both team-highs. She is now just 17 points shy of 1,000 and 10 rebounds shy of 500 in her career as a Panda. Fourth-year guard Jessilyn Fairbanks had a team-high five assists and the Pandas out-rebounded the Pronghorns 41-22.
The Pronghorns were led by second-year guard Zoe Dahl, who had a team-high 16 points, and third-year guard Allexia Barros, who had 13 points and a team-high five assists.
The Pandas started this game in full control as Van Ginhoven had the first five points of the game and the first seven of 11 scored by Alberta, as they went ahead 15-0 in the first 4:13 of the game.
Alberta extended their lead to 22-3 before Lethbridge responded, finishing the quarter on a 12-5 run behind seven points in the quarter from Barros and six from Dahl to make it 27-15 after one.
Alberta started the second quarter with an 8-0 run, continuing to lead at 35-15 and the Pandas would go on to control the rest of the quarter to lead 51-28 at the break.
In the second half, Van Ginhoven went back to work with six points in the third quarter and Fairbanks added two three-pointers for six of her own, Alberta outscoring Lethbridge 23-14 in the quarter to lead 74-42. The Horns were led in the third by Dahl, who netted five more points, including one three-pointer, one of three made by Lethbridge in the third.
In the fourth, both teams slowed down considerably, scoring just 18 points combined for a 12-6 Alberta edge and the 86-48 victory.
The win clinches third place for the Pandas in the Pioneer division playoff race at 15-4, one game behind Saskatchewan and UBC, who are 16-4 heading into the final game of the regular season. If they remain third, the Pandas would host a Canada West quarter-final on February 27-29 at the SCSC.
Alberta and Lethridge wrap up their regular season on Saturday night at 5 p.m. at the Saville Community Sports Centre and it is Senior Night for the Pandas graduating players. The careers of guards Sally Hillier and Jamie Norum as well as forwards Saskia Van Ginhoven, Kendra Asleson, and Megan Vande Kraats will be honoured.
