EDMONTON, Alberta - The Trinity Western began their two game series with the Alberta with a 89-54 loss to the Pandas Saturday afternoon at the Saville Community Sports Centre in Edmonton, Alta. The loss drops the Spartans to 1-2 in preseason non-conference play, while the win moves Alberta to 3-0.

Third-year guard Cassidy Buchanan (Aldergrove, B.C.), and first-year guard Colette Van der Hoven (Maple Ridge, B.C.) with 13 points each, and second-year centre Blessing Ibekwe (Coquitlam, B.C.) with nine points and 11 rebounds led the Spartans. Alberta had five players in double digit scoring, led by Reece Hall, Annacy Palmer, and Jayden Tanner with 11 points each, and Claire Easton-Ihediohanma with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.

UP NEXT
The Spartans and Pandas will play again tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. (MT) at the Competition Gym at the Saville Community Sports Centre in Edmonton, AB. TWU begins Canada West conference play on October 31 when they will host the Victoria Vikes. Game time at the LEC is set for 6 p.m. (PT). 

QUOTABLE
TWU head coach Cheryl Jean-Paul
"Great first half of basketball for us today! We want to learn how to play up with the top teams in our conference and we did that for sections of the game. The third quarter was a tough lesson in finding that next level of compete, but a good experience for us to learn how to respond to a very good team's push when the game is close. To only be down by six at the half was hard-earned, so really proud of the work we've put in to be in that position. Now we have the second half to evaluate and keep finding the next adjustment and respond to tough runs with better communication and team play."

AS IT HAPPENED
The Spartans trailed the Pandas 19-14 after the opening quarter, and 43-37 at halftime. Alberta broke the game open in the third quarter, outscoring Trinity Western 32-6 to take a 75-43 lead into the final 10 minutes. The Pandas had the edge in the final quarter, 14-11, to make the final a 35 point, 89-54, win for the home team.
 
NOTABLE

• TWU finished the game shooting 32.8 percent (21-64) from the field, 21.7 percent (5-23) from three-point line, and 63.6 percent (7-11) from the foul line. While Alberta shot 44.3 percent (31-70), 40.7 percent (11-27), and 80 percent (16-20) respectively.
• The Pandas had the edge in rebounds 45-39 and steals 17-5.
• The Spartans are now 5-31 lifetime against the Pandas. In their last meeting, January 14, 2023 in Langley, TWU defeated Alberta 66-63.

About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country, and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 14 U SPORTS team championships and 34 Canada West team championships.

About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in CIS sports. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others. 
 
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