LANGLEY, British Columbia – The Trinity Western Spartans finished their 2024 non-conference preseason schedule with a 82-70 win over the Lethbridge Pronghorns Saturday afternoon at the David E. Enarson Gym at TWU in Langley, B.C. The win gives the Spartans a 2-3 record heading into conference play.
 
Leading the Spartans in scoring were fourth-year guard Shemaiah Abatayo (Vancouver, B.C.)  with 26 points, third-year guard Cassidy Buchanan (Aldergrove, B.C.) with 24 points, and first-year guard Colette Van der Hoven (Maple Ridge, B.C.) with 19 points.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will now take on the Victoria Vikes in their Canada West opener on Thursday, October 31 at the Langley Events Centre. Game time is set for 6 p.m. and can be seen live on Canada West TV.
 
QUOTABLE
TWU head coach Cheryl Jean-Paul
"Today's game was a great ending to our pre-season. To finish with a tough battle, knowing that we had to find ways to stay ahead, is a meaningful process as we move into the regular season. We are still learning how to compete physically, and being able to create scores in transition and in the half-court will all be areas that we need to continue to rely on against tough Canada West teams. We are establishing what looks like we'll need certain players to make, but also establishing how important every contribution is, whether it's scoring, communicating, rebounding or providing tough defense. Every effort mattered today and it's great to have that affirmation that the work the team has been putting into our season's preparation is helping us achieve a competitive style of play."
 
NOTABLE

• The Spartans are 22-12 lifetime against the Pronghorns.
• TWU last lost to Lethbridge, 76-67, on March 6, 2022, in Calgary, Alta.
• The Spartans fist ever Canada West conference win came against the Pronghorns on November 5, 1999. TWU won 82-70 at the David E. Enarson Gym.

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 U 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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