Box Score LETHBRIDGE, Alberta – The Trinity Western University Spartans women's basketball team came into Lethbridge on Friday evening, and were able to defeat the hometown 'Horns, 86-63, and keep their slim playoff hopes alive. The win moves the Spartans to 7-12 on the season and will need some help on the out of town score board this weekend to reach the post-season. The loss drops the 'Horns to 1-18.
"Tonight's game was a great team effort. We started out giving up some big shots but I thought we recovered well and held off their momentum drives for the rest of the night," commented TWU head coach Cheryl Jean-Paul. "Creating for each other against the zone was the best part in giving ourselves the best possible looks verses just settling for shots. It's been a learning journey for this group, realizing how deep they can dig to turn games around, so we hope to continue learning and building on those moments."
Second year guard Jessie Brown (Langley, B.C.) came off the bench to lead the Spartans offensively, scoring 19 points, while third year forward Kayla Gordon (Prince George, B.C.) chipped in with 15 points and second year forward Tessa Ratzlaff (Abbotsford, B.C.) finished with 13. Zoe Dahl led the 'Horns, scoring 13 and Danielle Fritzke had a solid night off the bench with 12 points. TWU point guard just missed a rare double-double finishing with 11 rebounds and nine assists to go with her five points.
The 'Horns started the game red hot, as Dahl hammered two three-pointers right away, followed by another three-pointer by Elizabeth Buie, leading the Spartans to take a timeout just 2:18 into the game.
It didn't help much, as the 'Horns kept at it, with another three-pointer, dropped this time by Danielle Fritzke. A 12-0 game, the rookie guard Breanna Cabuco Spartans got on the board with 5:44 remaining in the first quarter.
TWU would pile on the points and finish the quarter trailing by only five. The 'Horns had the lead after one, 20-15. All of their points coming from the long ball, with the exception of two free-throws. They went 60 percent from down town in the quarter.
The second quarter saw the tables turn, as the Spartans found their game and got the ball to drop more often than in the first. It was an impressive quarter on defense for the Spartans, as they held the 'Horns to just nine points, while they notched 29 of their own, and took a 44-29 lead to the half.
In the first half, the Spartans shot 43.6 percent from the field, and 41.7 percent on three-pointers. Brown led the charge with 11 points, and Kayla Gordon and Tessa Ratzlaff each had nine.
The 'Horns went 30.3 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from the three-point line, and were led by Dahl and Danielle Fritzke, who had 10 and nine points, respectively.
The Spartans didn't let up in the second half, keeping the pressure on the 'Horns. The hometown squad did get some good looks offensively, but it seemed no matter what they did in the Spartans' end of the court, the Spartans could match it. The visitors took a 61-43 lead to the final quarter. Brown continued to lead the Spartans, with 14 points. Dahl maintained her lead of the 'Horns point-getters, with 10.
The fourth quarter saw the 'Horns put together a strong effort, and get themselves back into the game. Sparked by a massive block by freshman Katie Keith, they came within 11 points of tying the contest, but the Spartans were just too good over the homestretch, increasing their lead to as much as 23 points.
Statistically speaking, the Spartans finished the night with a 47.1 percent success rate from the field, 39.1 percent from the three point line, and the edge in rebounds, 45-36. The 'Horns finished 33.9 percent from the field, and 35.5 percent on three-pointers.
The Spartans and 'Horns will go at it one more time on Saturday at 5:00pm at the 1st Choice Savings Centre. The game is available on canadawest.tv.
Game Notes: the Spartans had 28 points off of turnovers, while the Pronghorns had 12…TWU had a 45-36 edge in rebounding…the Spartans largest lead was 25 points. 58-33, while the Pronghorns was 12 points, 12-0…
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