Horns have statement weekend ahead of crucial road trip

By Lethbridge Herald on January 16, 2024.

Blair Takahashi photo/ Lethbridge Sports University of Lethbridge Pronghorns Courtney McKee attempts to drive the basket against the University of Fraser Valley Cascades during Canada West women’s basketball action on Friday at the 1st Choice Savings Centre.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s basketball began an important stretch of games this past weekend and coach Dave Waknuk is pleased with the results after splitting their games a nationally ranked University of Fraser Valley Cascades.

The Horns began the weekend with a 73-67 win on Friday before dropping a 64-48 decision on Saturday.

“Looking back, I think that was a statement weekend for us,” said Waknuk.

“Obviously, to beat a top 10 nationally ranked team in our own gym …  and  extended our winning streak to nine wins on Friday, was a huge message for our program that we can compete with the best in the league. Obviously , they came back and established dominance on Saturday. But I think for us we’ve got to take the confidence out that shows … a team  that is a favourite to be in the final for the Canada West Championship is a team that we hung with and beat in the game. So I think we have to build our confidence from there and keep building from there.”

The Horns will look to use the momentum from the split as they now embark on a four-game road trip beginning Friday at MacEwan University.

“Our team has been fine tuning,” said Waknuk.

“I think it’s this time of year where you don’t have to and you aren’t going to make drastic changes but you’ve got to keep improving and keep making those small changes which adds up.”

Waknuk said every game’s important.

“I really think it is important for us to continue to try to grow here,” said Waknuk.

“I think we need to take a jump as a team and still get better by the time the playoffs come (in) February. I think that we’re realizing that.”

The Horn women’s (10-4) will then play MacEwan again on Saturday before heading to Calgary the following weekend to face the University of Calgary Dinos for two games.

As for U of L’s men’s team, head coach and local product Kenny Otieno got his first win on home court with a 77-69 over UFV on Friday.

The Horn men’s team began the weekend with a 102-88 loss to UFV on Friday.

They will be on the same trip as the women’s team.

Lethbridge College

 Lethbridge College Kodiaks volleyball teams opened the second halves of their seasons over the weekend.

The Kodiak men’s team (7-4) beat Concordia University of Edmonton in four sets on Friday and lost to King’s University in five sets on Saturday.

The college’s women’s team (2-9) dropped both of their games in three sets to the same teams the men’s team played.

The volleyball teams hit the road for Briercrest College this weekend.

The men’s basketball team split their games at Red Deer Polytechnic with an 89-75 loss on Friday and a 101-87 win on Saturday respectively.

The Kodiak women’s basketball team also split their games at Red Deer with a 63-53 win on Friday and a 70-55 loss on Saturday.

Both teams host Briercrest College on Friday and Saturday respectively.