POST GAME
In the Friday night showdown at the University of Lethbridge Gymnasium, the Mount Royal Cougars clashed with the hometown Pronghorns in a fierce two-game matchup. The tension was palpable from the first quarter, with the Cougars drawing first blood, but the Pronghorns' ten-point lead after the initial frame set the stage for a gripping contest. As the game unfolded, standout performances, strategic steals, and momentum swings kept fans on the edge of their seats. Ultimately, the Pronghorns secured a hard-fought victory, closing the night with a 69-60 triumph over their Southern Alberta rivals.

BREAKDOWN
- It was the visiting, Mount Royal Cougars that drew first blood at the University of Lethbridge Gymnasium in the Friday night matchup of Canada West Prairie Division, as Tanis Metcalfe earned the layup for the Cougars. Southern Alberta rivals, Mount Royal led the Pronghorns in the standings coming into the game in fifth position with a 6-2 record, while the Pronghorns record sat at 5-3 to open the season.
- After the first quarter the Pronghorns had a ten point, leading 20-10 against the Mount Royal Cougars. The first quarter advantage was led by Vlada Hozalova, who led the Pronghorns in their last four appearances. Pronghorn freshman, Courtney McKee proved to be a difference maker in the opening quarter of the two-game matchup, forcing a number of turnovers for the Cougars. The first quarter ended with the Pronghorns capturing seven steals on the visitors.
- In the second quarter, the Cougars weren't going away as Marissa Richards earned the three-point make to bring Mount Royal within single digits, but the Pronghorns came up with a number of takeaways in transition to maintain the advantage. A steal by Kamryn DeKlerk allowed the Horns' offense to set up. The Pronghorns worked the ball inside before finding DeKlerk open on the outside for three to stretch the lead to 14 points.
- Lethbridge fouls at the end of the first half sent Mount Royal to the free throw line, where Harriette Mackenzie made it count for the Cougars, going 9-12 from the line narrowing the Pronghorns lead to 34-26 going into the second half of play on Friday night at the University of Lethbridge Gymnasium.
- In the second half, the Pronghorns continued to fight for every possession and force turnovers for the visiting Cougars, stretching the lead to 16 points off Courtney McKee's hot hand from beyond the arc and layups by Abby Graves and Tobore Okome. Mount Royal Head Coach, Robyn Fleckenstein called a third quarter timeout with the Cougars team already sitting at 21 turnovers with two minutes left in frame three of the game. As the third quarter ended, the Horns led 55-38.
- In the fourth quarter, the momentum changed in favour of the Cougars, as they narrowed the gap to 12 with help from a deep three-point make by Asha Donnelly, but Vlada Hozalova came up with the answer, making it count from beyond the arc for the Pronghorns on the opposite end.
- In the final minutes of the game, Mount Royal continued to frustrate the Pronghorns forcing several turnovers down the stretch and with Pronghorn fouls in the defensive zone, the Cougars were able to bring the game back within single digits. The Cougars called a final time out, but as the final seconds wound down the Horns' lead held out and they took the victory 69-60.
 
NEXT UP
Both teams return to the University of Lethbridge Gymnasium on Saturday, December 2 at 5 p.m. in Pronghorn Athletics' Kids Get in Free Night.