Pronghorns battling for first

By Dale Woodard on February 18, 2022.

The last time the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s basketball team faced the Alberta Pandas, the Horns were handed a pair of losses.

They haven’t lost since.

Ten straight wins later, the 10-4 Pronghorns not only look for a little payback against that Pandas team downed them 75-62 Nov. 5 and 59-51 Nov. 6, but first place is also on the line as the 10-2 Pandas roll into the 1st Choice Savings Centre in late-season Canada West action tonight at 6 p.m.

In the men’s game, the 6-6 Pronghorns take on the undefeated 12-0 Golden Bears at 8 p.m.

For the women’s team, a little growing up has taken place since those pair of losses in early-November that put the Horns at 0-4 to start the season as they now wrap up their regular season this weekend.

Indeed, the locals have rebounded nicely with a double digits winning clip that puts first place in the Canada West Central Division up for grabs this weekend.

“I think we understand who we are,” said Pronghorns head coach Dave Waknuk. “I think we’ve established an identity and we know what that is. In those first four games I think we were struggling to kind of figure out what we were and who we were. That was a transition period coming off COVID and all of the other things that came with it. We weren’t quite sure who we were.”

What they are now, said Waknuk, is a versatile team.

“It seems like every player and every piece can play differently and bring a little bit of something else,” he said.

“I think that it was almost a bit of a science experiment for me to figure out which combinations work. I think we have a lot of adaptability and I think we have a lot of versatility where we can play differently when needed and we can play some different styles and focus on different things. I think that gives us a chance in games where we can try things until something clicks.”

The Pandas have two games in hand and will face the Calgary Dinos next weekend, making up games that were postponed earlier this year.

“They’re a good basketball team,” said Waknuk.

“They execute well, they’re well-coached and they’re a disciplined team. They play smart, aggressive basketball. We thought we played well against them in the first semester. Obviously, we didn’t like the result we had. I think both teams were feeling themselves out and I think both teams have found who they are since then.”

The Pronghorns hold the sixth ranked offence, scoring 71.1 points per game. The Horns are also ranked eighth defensively allowing 65.6 points against.

Guard Jessica Haenni leads the Pronghorns in scoring with 15.5 points per game, while Haily Weaver and Savannah McMahon are averaging 10.9 and 10 points per game, respectively.

Emma Kary leads the Pandas offensively with 15.5 points per game. Brianna Fehr and Mackenzie Cook are chipping in with 13.2 and 10.3 points per game, respectively.

“She was coming off an injury when we played them the first time,” said Waknuk of Kary. “I don’t think she was where she wanted to be and she has found that groove and I think she drives that ship. As she goes, they go. She’s a standout player in our league. She’s one of the best and has been for a couple of years. So she’s obviously a big reason why they’re successful right now and someone we’re going to key on and try to be aware of when we play.”

With the regular season wrapping up this weekend, the Pronghorns will start focusing on the post-season, which kicks off next month.

“We’ve talked since Day 1 we want to try and grow and get better, improve and try to play our best ball at the end in games that matter and that’s what this is,” said Waknuk. “But another approach is we’ve just been trying to really focus on ourselves and not trying to change too much week-to-week. We know what our job is and it’s ultimately the playoffs in a couple of weeks. While U of A is a big challenge, we don’t want to come in and change what we’ve been doing and what we’ve been doing is trying to focus on ourselves and get better on our own stuff and try to push ourselves to be better in training and practice every day.”

Still, the Horns head coach said there’s something to be said about hosting the Pandas.

“I think there’s obviously a lot more excitement when you get a chance to host these teams and finish out your regular season in front of what we hope is a good crowd against a tough team. That’s what everyone wants, that’s the competitor in everybody who is a part of this. That’s the fun part of it, for sure.”

Coming off a road sweep of the Calgary Dinos last weekend, the Pronghorns men’s basketball team will host their final home games of the Canada West regular season this weekend, welcoming the Canada West top-ranked Golden Bears.

The sweep of the Dinos moved the Horns into third place in the Central Division, only three games back of the Dinos for second place.

The Dinos have two games remaining and will face the Golden Bears next weekend.

Through 12 games this season, the Pronghorns hold the ninth ranked offence in Canada West, scoring 79.9 points per game. On the defensive side, the Pronghorns are ranked sixth in the conference, allowing 74.8 points per game.

Angelo Mbituyimana leads the Pronghorns in scoring with 14 points per game, while De’Andrae Pierre sits second with 12.7 points per game.

Lethbridge’s Jeff Rodehutskors averages 12.2 points per game and holds the third-best field goal percentage in Canada West at 59.8 per cent.

The Pronghorns will head to Edmonton next week to take on the MacEwan Griffins to make up the games postponed Feb. 4 and 5.

The Pronghorns will host the start of the Canada West Tournament, March 3-5.

Following the new provincial guidelines, guests on University of Lethbridge campus will not have to provide proof of vaccine. However, masking is still required at all times on campus.

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