Lethbridge –  After just missing out on the post-season a year ago, the Lethbridge Pronghorn women's basketball team opens the new Canada West season this weekend, looking to continue their upward trend, hosting the Brandon Bobcats.
 
The season and home opener is slated for a 6:00pm tip-off Friday night and a 5:00pm start Saturday. Both games will be streamed live on www.canadawest.tv.
 
The Pronghorns and Bobcats did not face each other last season but during the 2015-16 season, the Pronghorns lost both games to the Bobcats at the 1^st Choice Savings Centre in Lethbridge.
 
"We look to continue to build on our positive growth in our program," said head coach Dave Adams. "We look to 'fail forward' from missing the playoffs on the last night of the regular season to being in the post-season in 2018."
 
"We are excited to host a Canada West playoff team in our gym, Novell has done an amazing job at transforming Brandon into a league contender. They have four fifth-year starters and are a very good team."
 
A look at the teams
 
The Pronghorns went 7-2 during their non-conference schedule that included wins over Montana State-Northern, Mount Royal and Wilfrid Laurier.
 
Last season, the Pronghorns missed the playoffs by one win and were ranked 11^th defensively in Canada West, allowing 69 points against per game. Offensively, the Pronghorns averaged 58.5 points per game which ranked them 16^th.
 
Brandon, who made the post-season last year with a 8-12 record, went 3-4 in the preseason but had a tough schedule, suffering losses to the 2018 U SPORTS women's basketball championship host Regina Cougars, always tough UBC Thunderbirds and 2015 National Champion Windsor Lancers.
 
A year ago, the Bobcats were the ninth best offensive team, scoring 65.5 points per game and were ranked 14^th defensively, allowing 71.3 points per games.
 
Players to watch
 
After missing all of last year due to injury, local product Kacie Bosch will make her official Canada West debut this weekend. Former Southern Alberta High School Basketball MVP spent two seasons with the Gonzaga Bulldogs and will play a big role in the Pronghorns success.
 
2017 leading scorer Zoe Dahl returns for her fifth and final season and look to close out her career on a positive one. Last season see averaged 12.8 points per game. Katie Keith and Kathryn Hankins are also expected to make big contributions this season.
 
For the Bobcats, the 2017-18 team is an experienced one, starting a veteran group but the team is led by Keisha Cox who led the Bobcats in points, assists and rebounds last year, averaging 17.9 points, 2.8 assists and 7.2 rebounds per game. She also tied for the team lead in blocks per game.
 
Next up: Pronghorns will head out on the road next weekend, traveling to Edmonton to face the MacEwan Griffins. The Pronghorns will be on home court Thursday November 9^th when they host the Mount Royal Cougars.