Lethbridge, Alta. – A University of Victoria women's basketball team down to just nine players battled hard, but ultimately fell to the University of Lethbridge, 64-58, on the road Jan. 31.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Vikes lead after one, Pronghorns take lead at half

• Buckets from Tana Pankratz and Abigail Becker gave the Vikes a 4-3 lead in the opening minutes of the game, but six-straight Pronghorn points followed to give the home side a 9-4 lead with 4:46 to go in the first.
• Two consecutive jumpers from Meike Boerstra followed by a Pankratz jumper tied the game, 10-10, with 2:04 to go.
• Jade Dittmer responded to both Pronghorm scores in the final 90 seconds, first hitting a three and then a jumper to give Victoria the 15-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
• A Lethbridge three-pointer opened the second quarter, leading to a quick back-and-forth scoring series that ended with Boerstra's long two putting the Vikes back on top, 20-18, with 7:19 to go.
• The Pronghorns went on an 11-1 run over the next four minutes, taking a 29-21 lead over the Vikes until a Pankratz layup ended the run, 29-23, with 3:17 to go.
• Attempting to even the score in the final minutes, eight Vikes points from Pankratz and Natalie Allison three's, along with a Becker layup, pulled Victoria back within one, 32-31, at the halftime buzzer.

Becker reaches milestone in third quarter

• With just under seven minutes to play in the third quarter, Becker grabbed the offensive rebound on her own shot, marking her 11th rebound of the game as well as her 500th career rebound in Canada West play. She made the put-back shot following the board to bring the Vikes back within two, 38-36, with 6:50 to go.

Vikes end third quarter in front

• Though the Pronghorns held their lead for the first half of the frame, an eight-point run for the Vikes on a Becker layup and a three and layup from Pankratz put the Vikes back on top, 41-38, with 4:10 remaining.
• Eight Pronghorn points to the Vikes' lone free throw put the home side back ahead, 46-42, with 2:19 on the clock.
• Undeterred, the Vikes put the final five points of the third on the board, using layups from Boerstra and Becker along with a Bella Graves free throw to take the 48-47 lead after 30 minutes of play.

Pronghorns outscore Vikes in fourth to take win

• The fourth quarter saw both sides trade baskets for the first six and a half minutes, until a three-pointer from Lethbridge gave the home side a 59-56 lead with 3:28 to go.
• Holding on to their lead for the final minutes of play, the Pronghorns outscored UVic 17-10 in the final quarter to take the 64-58 win.

WORTH NOTING

• Abigail Becker and Tana Pankratz led the Vikes' scoring, each with 14 points. Becker recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 14 rebounds, including her 500th career rebound in Canada West action.
• Meike Boerstra led the Vikes with a career-high four assists. She added eight points and four rebounds, both season-highs, along with two steals for the Vikes.
• Natalie Allison neared a double-double for the Vikes, recording nine points and nine rebounds.
• The Vikes move to 9-6 on the year with the loss, while Lethbridge improves to 7-8. 

UP NEXT
The Vikes and Pronghorns complete the weekend series tomorrow, Feb. 1, at 5 p.m. MT. Catch the game on Canada West TV presented by BioSteel.