VANCOUVER – After a roller coaster first quarter the UBC Thunderbirds responded with much better execution the rest of the way en route to a 76-54 defeat of the visiting Lethbridge Pronghorns Friday at War Memorial Gym.
 
Keylyn Filewich led the way for the T-Birds recording a double double with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Hailey Counsel added 17 points and six rebounds while Jessica Hanson also chipped in with 11 points, 5 rebounds and five assists helping the 'Birds improve to 6-3 on the season.
 
Leading the way for Lethbridge was Kacie Bosch with 17 points and eight rebounds while Jessica Haenni added 10 points and four rebounds as the Pronghorns fell to 5-4 on the campaign
 
The T-Birds jumped out to a good start on home court in building up an early 17-13 lead but the Pronghorns quickly caught fire to turn the tide beginning with three pointers in quick succession from Isabel Rattai and Bosch to give Lethbridge a 21-17 advantage. The visitors would score the final 10 points to close out the quarter with a 23-17 lead. Bosch led the way with 10 points thanks to four of six shooting from the field while also making both of her three-point attempts. Haenni chipped in with another six points for Lethbridge while Hailey Counsel had the T-Birds high with six points.
 
After closing out the opening quarter on a cold streak the 'Birds came out with impressive execution in the second frame, scoring the first 20 points before Rattai replied with the lone basket for the Pronghorns with 1:28 remaining to trail 37-25. Leading the way for the T-Birds resurgence were veterans Filewich and Hanson with seven points each while Counsell and Dina Strujic added four points each as the hosts outscored Lethbridge 27-2 to take a 44-25 lead at halftime.
 
In the third quarter the T-Birds continued to be paced by Filewich who poured in another 11 points in the post and had completed her second three-point play midway through the frame to make it 54-30. Maddison Penn contributed five points in her first action of the season coming back from injury helping the 'Birds build a 63-38 lead after three quarters. Bosch and Alexa Pobitzer each scored three points for the Pronghorns.
 
In the final frame, it was Counsell who set the pace for the T-Birds with seven points to help secure the 76-54 victory. The Pronghorns outscored UBC 16-13 in the quarter with the highlight play coming from Kansas Long who sliced down the lane for an acrobatic looping layup to pull within 68-52.
 
The T-Birds and Pronghorns meet in the rematch Saturday, night with a 5:00 p.m. tipoff at War Memorial Gym. Catch all the action on www.canadawest.tv.