Lethbridge – For the first time in 2017, the Lethbridge Pronghorn women's basketball team heads out on the road traveling to Victoria to face the Victoria Vikes for a pair of games.
 
Tip-off in Victoria is slated for 6:00pm Friday and 5:00pm Saturday, both Pacific Standard Time. Both games will also be streamed live on www.canadawest.tv.
 
Following a 2-2 start to the second semester, the Pronghorns (4-10) find themselves tied for the final playoff spot in the conference, but sit 14^th in the RPI (Rating Percentage Index). This season the top 12 teams based on winning percentage qualify for the playoffs but will then be ranked 1 to 12 based on each team's RPI Standing in order to account for the various strengths of schedules faced by each team in an unbalanced schedule. The top four teams will get a bye during the opening round of the playoffs with teams ranked five through eight hosting a best of three to open the post season.
 
Riding a four game winning streak, the Vikes (8-4) sit tied with four teams for fifth in Canada West but have the eighth ranked RPI. All four of the Vikes losses have come against teams that were nationally ranked when they played. Victoria dropped games to UBC and Regina during the first semester.
 
Statistically speaking, the Vikes hold the edge in most categories heading into this weekend's match-up. Offensively, the Vikes are ranked fifth (67.8 ppg) compared to the 'Horns who are ranked 16^th (57.8 ppg). On the defensive end of the floor the Vikes sit ninth (64.8 ppg) in Canada West, while the Pronghorns sit 13^th (70 ppg). The Vikes also hold the advantage in team shooting percentage hitting at a 39.7% rate and the 'Horns are shooting 28.2% as a team. However, the Pronghorns hold a slight edge in rebounding, 37.5 rpg to 37.4 rpg.
 
Players to Watch:
 
Zoe Dahl continues to lead the Pronghorns in scoring, averaging 11.5 points per game. Kathryn Hankins and Teesha Olsen average 9.8 and 9.5 points respectively. Jessica Bachynski sits second in Canada West total rebounds with 124 in 13 games.
The Vikes have a quartet that account for more than 74% of their scoring but are led by Jenna Bugiardini's 15.5 points per game. Both Amira Giannattasio and Nicole Karstein are averaging 12.3 points per game.
 
The Pronghorns will return home next weekend to host their final home games of the 2016-17 season, welcoming the UBCO Heat to Lethbridge.
 
 
 
 
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