KELOWNA, BC - A third quarter run powered by three UBC Okanagan senior players cut into the Lethbridge lead but the Pronghorns kept the home team at bay, hanging on to the 12 point, 69-57, win in Canada West women's basketball on Saturday night in Kelowna.
Vanessa Botteselle, Jordan Korol, and Ana Evans combined for 17 of the 22 points scored in the third for UBCO as the trio managed to trim the Lethbridge lead to 12 after trailing by 19 at the half and as many as 20 in the third.
Cutting the lead to under 10 just once in the fourth it was Kacie Bosch who seemed to be the answer for Lethbridge, with seven points in the final quarter.
The Heat's late run was cut down when Botteselle picked up her fifth with two minutes to play with an offensive foul.
The Heat's senior trio finished with Botteselle leading the way with 14 points while Korol and Evans each netted 12 points. Korol once again led UBC on the glass with nine rebounds.
The Pronghorns' balanced attack, with four players in double figures, was the key to the night for the visitors who picked up their fourth straight win to start the season 4-0.
Katie Keith led the way with 15 points, Kacie Bosch flipped in 13 points, as those two combined for 7-15 shooting from long distance. Asnate Fomina added 11 points while Jessica Zaromy finished with 10 points, nine rebounds. Keith earned a double-double leading the way with 10 boards.
"We put in a solid effort against a touch UBCO team who didn't quit all game," said interim head coach Dave Waknuk. "Overall it was a successful weekend as we continue to grow and improve as a team."
"We have a great opportunity to learn from these games and to come back and improve in practice this coming week."
It was a tight first quarter was until Lethbridge's Isabel Rattai's three with two seconds on the clock had the Heat down six points (17-11) after 10 minutes. Stuck on 11 points for the first half off the second quarter was the turning point for the Heat as the 'Horns scored 10 straight to start the second quarter.
The win improves the Pronghorns to 4-0 early into the Canada West season and are one of only three undefeated teams in Canada West.
Up Next:
The Pronghorns remain on the road, travelling to Edmonton for a weekend series against the Alberta Pandas, the Friday (Nov. 16) night game tips off at 6 p.m. local time and the Saturday night contest an hour earlier, 5 p.m. MST.
