Pronghorns get home court split

By Lethbridge Herald on November 4, 2025.

Herald Photo by Nathan Reiter Rae Wedman of the U of L Pronghorns dribbles the ball up court during Canada West women's basketball action at the Co-op Centre for Sport & Wellness on Saturday. Wedman was pressed into extended duty following an injury to fifth-year Kamryn DeKlerk.

By Nathan Reiter

Lethbridge Herald- Local Journalism Initiative Reporter 

The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns were able to pick up weekend splits in Canada West basketball action over the weekend against the Brandon Bobcats at the Co-op Centre for Health & Wellness. 

Women split, lose DeKlerk to injury

The Pronghorn women started off the weekend on the right foot with an 84-77 victory on Friday night before falling on Saturday in a back-and-forth 69-95 affair.

Head coach Dave Waknuk says it was disappointing not to pick up the weekend sweep. 

“It’s always tough. I think at home you want to try to win both, but they played great today. They shot the ball well. I think it’s always one of those games where you flip the results, maybe you feel a little bit differently about it. This one was right there. We had our chances. We won a close one (Friday) night, came back and won it. They got a close one today. It’s just kind of how this sport goes. It’s disappointing but as I told the team, so early we’re still learning and trying to clean up some mistakes.”

In the win on Friday night, Piper Dobbelsteyn paced Lethbridge offensively with 33 points shooting 12 for 22 from the field while also knocking down six three point shots on 12 attempts. Coutrney McKee and Mhari Mattuli pitched in for 14 points while Asia Wells added 15 off the bench for the Pronghorns. 

In the loss on Saturday, Dobbelsteyn (19) and Abby Stonehocker (13) were the only Pronghorns to hit double digits. First year guard Rae Wedman picked up nine points off the bench for Lethbridge after being pressed into extended duty following an injury to fifth-year guard Kamryn DeKlerk. Following the injury, DeKlerk did not return.

Waknuk says it was positive to see the Pronghorns rally to replace DeKlerk. 

“You take away kind of the engine of your car, it’s tough to make it run and we get a pretty good job. We give a lot of credit to Rae who came in and had big shoes to jump in and fill and did a pretty good job with it. It’s a big learning curve to go in and try to fill the fifth year’s shoes, but she did a good job. Hopefully it’ll be a short term and we’ll get Kam back. It was probably a good experience in the long run for us to have to play without Kam to force others to pick up things.”

Men pick up first win of season Saturday

The Pronghorn men battled back from a tough 84-77 loss on Friday night to capture their first win of the season on Saturday by an 85-72 final score.

Head coach Kenny Otieno says he liked Lethbridge’s willingness to take advantage of some favourable matchups throughout the weekend. 

“I think our guys are starting to understand it’s the approach that we start games with. We made some changes with our lineup with the starting lineup that we felt needed to be addressed in terms of having some guys that can help us spread the floor a little bit and have a little bit more energy. I think that carried on with the guys that came off the bench. I just think the focus and the mindset of starting the right way and not being content and taking advantage of the opportunities where we have just the mismatches or whatever it is. I think we did a much better job of being aware, recognizing and trying to punish them for situations where we did have an advantage.”

In Friday’s game, Kymani Pollard paced the Pronghorns with 23 points. Lu Dalil (16) and Karter Fry (10) each provided scoring off the bench for Lethbridge. 

The Pronghorns got out to a lead early and never looked back in Saturday’s contest. Lethbridge would take a 46-35 lead into the half and would lead by as much as 21 at one point in the game. 

Pollard’s 20 points paced Lethbridge offensively. Bryce Solis would pitch in 14 points with Dalil contributing 16 off the bench in the winning effort.

Saturday’s contest was charged with emotion as a total of five technical fouls were handed out, including three against the Pronghorns. Lu Dalil took the first after hanging from the rim following a dunk. Just six seconds later, Brady Baines was given a technical. Cole Steele also took one in the third quarter. 

Otieno says discipline is an area that the Pronghorns will look to improve upon. 

“That’s one of the things that we try to have in terms of our identity. Just being able to stay poised and have that emotional stability and regulation when stuff is not going our way. We had no excuse today, we had 10 point leads at different times. Guys are getting caught up whether it’s the bench that’s talking or whether it’s the players on the opposing team that’s trying to rattle them up and they’re getting caught up in it. That’s when we really have to get a little bit more in control and understand that they’re just trying to get an advantage any way that they can. That’s something I’m definitely going to address with my guys.”

The Pronghorns will hit the road next weekend as they travel to Regina. Lethbridge returns home the weekend of Nov. 14 to take on the University of Manitoba.