VANCOUVER – Pronghorns showed heart in the Canada West season opener, but the Thunderbirds earn the 68-57 victory.
 
The Pronghorns' captain, Tobore Okome, led the team with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, while Courtney McKee added 11 points, one rebound, and two steals.
 
Thunderbirds started with full-court pressure right out of the gate and took an early 10-2 lead charging from the defensive end of the floor. However, the Pronghorns persisted. After a few empty possessions, the visiting team started to play aggressively around the offensive glass, racking up a few baskets coming from Okome and McKee. The pair combined for six quick points.
 
Coming out in the second quarter, the Pronghorns cut the lead down to just four, 33-29. Okome continued to lead the charge for the opposition as she set up her teammates, drew fouls, and finished at the rim.
 
But Mona Berlitz stepped up big for the Thunderbirds. After the Pronghorns cut the deficit to just four, Berlitz finished back-to-back layups at the rim, giving the momentum back to the 'Birds. She led the charge in the second quarter and led the team with 12 points and six rebounds at half.
 
The Thunderbirds kept the pressure up, as their focus and competitive energy started to edge out the Pronghorns, forcing 23 total turnovers.
 
Okome remained aggressive on both ends of the floor. To start the fourth, she drew back-to-back fouls, converting them to five consecutive points, but the deficit was too large to overcome.
 
Both teams will regroup and meet each other again on Saturday, November 4th, at 4:00 p.m. PDT at the War Memorial Gym.