EDMONTON - Playing in her varsity debut, heralded rookie #Jessica Renfrew# scored 14 points to help the UVic Vikes women's basketball team to a 77-61 season opener victory over the Western Ontario Mustangs.

BOXSCORE

Renfrew, a Claremont graduate, combined with All-Star guard #Debbie Yeboah# to lead a second quarter run that swung the lead, and momentum, in the Vikes favour. Renfrew and Yeboah totalled 19 of the Vikes' 23 points in the quarter to capture a 41-32 halftime advantage.

Yeboah led all scorers with 17 points, shooting 7-for-13. #Carmen Lapthorne# knocked down four three-pointers and finished with 16 points. #Kayla Dykstra# scored eight points and had a game-high six 'boards.

The Mustangs are considered amongst the favourites in the OUA after landing 2009 CIS championship MVP Matteke Hutzler in the off-season. Hutzler, formerly of Simon Fraser, scored 16 points in the loss.

The Vikes run into another OUA heavyweight Saturday when they face the Windsor Lancers at the Pandas Invitational. The Lancers are the defending OUA champs and played in last year's CIS final.