REGINA - #Kayla Dykstra# picked up right where she left off from a year ago as CIS MVP. Dykstra scored 22 points to lead the UVic Vikes women's basketball team to a 65-61 victory over the Lethbridge Pronghorns.

In the season opener, Dykstra scored a game high 22 points on 9-15 shooting, alongside 12 rebounds and two blocks. Her totals were not far off her season averages from 2008-09, in which she led the Canada West in scoring (18.6 p/g), rebounding (11.2 p/g) and shooting percentage (61.4 %) and received both the conference and national MVP awards.

On Friday night, Dykstra helped break a 45-45 deadlock in the fourth quarter by scoring 10 points in the final frame. The fourth year post from Calgary sealed the victory after making two free-throws with under a minute remaining.

#Debbie Yeboah# also contributed 13 points with six rebounds. #Jane Anholt# scored 10 points, making 5-7 at the free-throw line. #Vanessa Forstbauer# scored seven points and picked up eight rebounds. #Carmen Lapthorne# scored five points in her Vikes debut. The former All-Canadian at Camosun College sunk a three-pointer in the final two minutes to swing the lead in the Vikes favour for good.

The Vikes will return to action on Saturday night at the Cougar Classic when they face tournament host Regina Cougars. The Cougars advanced to the CIS title game last season, where they suffered a 68-62 loss to the Simon Fraser Clan.