CALGARY – Opening a two game home-and-home set in Calgary with the Mount Royal Cougars, the Lethbridge Pronghorn women's basketball team could not overcome a slow start, dropping a close 78-74 decision in Calgary.
 
Senior guard Kacie Bosch continued her strong play in her final season with the Pronghorns recording a fourth consecutive double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Amy Mazutinec chipped in with 13 points, while both Asnate Fomina and Jessica Zarowny counted 12 points each.
 
For the Cougars, Maddison Hooper led all scorers with 23 points, Jenka Martens finished the night with 15 points and eight rebounds.
 
The first quarter began quite slow as both teams worked to find a good pace. Pronghorns' Jessica Zarowny opened the scoring after three minutes of play, closely followed by Asnate Fomina landing a jumper. Mount Royal soon met their points at five then slipped into the lead with four minutes remaining. They traded points, matching each other's steps, until the Cougars' Marnie Garner stole a quick jumper in the final minute to give the Cougars a 11-9 lead at the first break.
 
Leading into the second, Mount Royal was able capitalizing on rebounds but the 'Horns were able to stay close on the Cougars' heels, briefly taking the lead by a single point with just over five minutes to play. However, the Cougars offense began to click in the later part of the quarter, retaking the lead and extending that lead to double digits by quarters end.
 
The Pronghorns started the third on the right foot with a layup from Bosch, gaining a spark that they were looking for and chipped the Cougars lead back to just two points in the early part of the third. With less than a minute remaining in the third, Lethbridge's Mazutinec landed a three pointer to complete the Pronghorns comeback and give her team a 47-44 lead with 10 minutes to play. 
 
Getting back on track after being outscored 23-10 in the third quarter, Mount Royal's Hooper opened the scoring for the final quarter with a three to tie the game up at 47. After trading possessions in the opening minutes, Hooper pushed the Cougars into the lead with another swift three pointer. The Cougars were able to widen the gap until the Pronghorns were finally able to respond with successive lay-up, narrowing it once more. With less than a minute remaining, the Pronghorns closed the gap to just a single point, but Mount Royal's Abbey Gillette made three of four free throws down the stretch to solidify the victory.
 
The teams will face off next in Lethbridge on Saturday, January 18^th. It will be broadcasted live on CanadaWest.tv, presented by Co-op.